BNP firm on poll-time govt demand

There might be two to three options to select the other members of the poll-time government

BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia is likely to disclose her party’s proposal for an election-time government after Eid-ul-Fitr. “We have already worked out the proposal on the poll-time administration. But it is being disclosed following the party’s Vision 2030 for a strategic reason,” a BNP insider told The Independent on condition of anonymity.
“Besides, some changes are being made to the proposal,” he added.
The insider disclosed that the proposal would recommend selecting the head of the poll-time administration with the consensus of all the political parties participating in the election.
“There might be two to three options to select the other members of the poll-time government. They can either be from political parties, members of civil society or professional groups. But the party in no way will allow holding the next polls under the present government,” he said.
Khaleda Zia is likely to place the BNP's proposal at a press conference in the presence of members of civil society, election affairs think-tanks and diplomats, he added.
Senior BNP leaders echoed their party’s aversion to participating in the polls under the Sheikh Hasina government. They claimed that holding a free and fair election under the present government was a utopian dream.
The BNP will also emphasise the need to strengthen the Election Commission (EC) by amending the Constitution, a senior party
leader said.
He also said a team of standing committee members, led by party secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, was now engaged in finalising the proposal.
BNP standing committee member Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain said they were busy completing the outline of the poll-time government. “It is likely to be revealed after Ramadan,” he added.
Another member of the BNP standing committee, Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, said they were giving priority to prepare and disclose the proposal on the poll-time government.
The BNP leader, however, added that no time had yet been set to disclose the party’s proposal, but it might be very soon.
He criticised the EC’s move to introduce the electronic voting machine (EVM) system to conduct the next polls. “The EC should first take care of earning the trust of the people, rather than showing such enthusiasm for the EVM system,” he said. On May 10, the BNP chairperson had revealed her party’s "Vision 2030" with a target of turning Bangladesh into a high middle-income country. Earlier, on February 13, BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir had told reporters that the party would place a proposal for a supportive election-time government.
Meanwhile, the ruling Awami League has 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.
According to constitutional provisions, the next general election should be held within 90 days prior to January 28, 2019.

 

BNP firm on poll-time govt demand

There might be two to three options to select the other members of the poll-time government

BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia is likely to disclose her partys proposal for an election-time government after Eid-ul-Fitr. We have already worked out the proposal on the poll-time administration. But it is being disclosed following the partys Vision 2030 for a strategic reason, a BNP insider told The Independent on condition of anonymity. Besides, some changes are being made to the proposal, he added. The insider disclosed that the proposal would recommend selecting the head of the poll-time administration with the consensus of all the political parties participating in the election. There might be two to three options to select the other members of the poll-time government. They can either be from political parties, members of civil society or professional groups. But the party in no way will allow holding the next polls under the present government, he said. Khaleda Zia is likely to place the BNPs proposal at a press conference in the presence of members of civil society, election affairs think-tanks and diplomats, he added. Senior BNP leaders echoed their partys aversion to participating in the polls under the Sheikh Hasina government. They claimed that holding a free and fair election under the present government was a utopian dream. The BNP will also emphasise the need to strengthen the Election Commission (EC) by amending the Constitution, a senior party leader said. He also said a team of standing committee members, led by party secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, was now engaged in finalising the proposal. BNP standing committee member Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain said they were busy completing the outline of the poll-time government. It is likely to be revealed after Ramadan, he added. Another member of the BNP standing committee, Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, said they were giving priority to prepare and disclose the proposal on the poll-time government. The BNP leader, however, added that no time had yet been set to disclose the partys proposal, but it might be very soon. He criticised the ECs move to introduce the electronic voting machine (EVM) system to conduct the next polls. The EC should first take care of earning the trust of the people, rather than showing such enthusiasm for the EVM system, he said. On May 10, the BNP chairperson had revealed her partys Vision 2030 with a target of turning Bangladesh into a high middle-income country. Earlier, on February 13, BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir had told reporters that the party would place a proposal for a supportive election-time government. Meanwhile, the ruling Awami League has 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. According to constitutional provisions, the next general election should be held within 90 days prior to January 28, 2019.