poll-time govt
BNP changes position
BNP wanted the Sheikh Hasina-led government to hand over charges of some key ministries to neutral persons under technocrat quota
RAFIQUL ISLAM AZAD
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) was amenable to contesting the next general elections under the incumbent government, provided that some neutral individuals were incorporated in key ministries at poll time, party leaders said. The partys new formula for a supportive election-time government was to ensure free, fair and credible polls under whatever name or nature, they added. They said BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia has assigned some senior party leaders and intellectuals to prepare an outline of such a poll-time administration by retaining the incumbent government, if necessary.
In that case, the BNP wanted the Sheikh Hasina-led government to hand over charges of some key ministries such as home, defence and public administration to non-partisan individuals under the technocrat quota (one-tenth of Cabinet members) permitted by the Constitution.
By outlining the new formula, the BNP has apparently shifted away from its previous demand for a caretaker government in the wake of rigid stance of the ruling Awami League (AL).
The AL had made it clear that the next polls would be held under the present government in accordance with the Constitution after the scrapping of the provision for a poll-time caretaker government through the 15th Amendment.
A senior BNP leader said the party was looking at two options for the proposed election-time supportive government. The first option would be to allow the incumbent government to remain in power during the election, but it would only carry out routine work and refrain from taking any policy decisions. Moreover, the Prime Minister would have limited executive powers, the leader said on condition of anonymity.
The government may retain power during the election, but at least the charges of important ministries like home, defence and public administration should be handed over to neutral persons in consultation with the major political parties, he added. According to the second option, the PM should resign and a neutral person would take over the post, and all the ministries concerned would be looked after by the EC during the three-month election time, he said.
BNP vice-chairman advocate Mahbub Hossain said their main thrust was to hold the next election under a neutral administration so that the EC can hold the election free from the influence of the incumbent government.
Hossain said good sense should also prevail in the government to hold the parliamentary polls in a free, fair and acceptable manner. No election will be accepted by excluding the BNP, he said, adding: Notwithstanding a powerful EC, it is not possible to hold a free and fair election without the governments good will.
A BNP joint secretary general said it was a matter of bargaining to hold a participatory election in a free and fair manner. Sources said four to five party stalwarts, led by secretary-general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, were working on the proposal for an election-time supportive government in consultation with some pro-BNP intellectuals. The BNP chairperson will disclose the proposal at a press conference later this month or early next month, the sources said. On February 13, Alamgir had told reporters that BNP would place a new proposal for a supportive election-time government.
