Opposition chief whip Zainul Abdin Farroque on Saturday, said the government’s decision of continuing with the present Parliament after October 24, was ill-motivated. “The Ninth Parliament will have to be dissolved by October 24, after reinstating the non-party CG provision in the Constitution. Or else, the government’s ill-motivated plan will be thwarted by a mass movement,” opposition chief whip Zainul Abdin Farroque told a press briefing of the BNP parliamentary party, at the parliament complex. Farroque’s comment came a day after senior Awami League leaders Suranjit
Sengupta and Tofail Ahmed claimed that the Prime Minister, her cabinet, and Parliament would remain in place after October 24.
“The government’s plan to continue with the present Parliament is a blatant conspiracy against the opposition, as well as the people,” Farroque added.
The BNP leader said the parliament business advisory committee had decided that the Ninth Parliament will have its last day of business on October 24. “But, AL is
planning to continue the Parliament after this date,” he said.
Farroque said the BNP parliamentary party was yet to decide whether party MPswill resign, if Parliament was extended beyond October 24.
He added that the government could place a bill reinstating the CG provision in the Constitution, during the parliamentary session on October 23 or 24, to overcome the prevailing political crisis.
In 1975, the one-party BKSAL rule was introduced within a short time of the end of the then Parliament. “The government should follow this precedent, and restore the CG provision,” he added.
Farroqueridiculed recent claims by AL leaders that the Ninth Parliament should continue after October 24, on the grounds of political turmoil by the opposition.
“Such statements are a ploy. The ruling party leaders are misleading people in a bid to hang on to power,” Farroque said. BNP lawmakers Mahbub Uddin Khoka, Abul Khair Bhuiyan and others were present at the press briefing.
As per constitutional framework, the AwamiLeague-led Grand Alliance government will start functioning as the CG, from October 25, to oversee the next parliamentary polls. The CG’stenure will end on January 25, and the election will have to be held before it.
-With The Independent input
