Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday proposed the formation of an all-party election-time government, comprising MPs belonging to both the ruling party and the opposition, to supervise the next general election. She urged opposition leader Khaleda Zia to nominate opposition members for the interim government. Hasina expressed hope that the opposition chief would respond to her call and shun the path of confrontation.
The Prime Minister’s proposal, which was made in her address to the nation, came at a moment when the country was going through a political turmoil over the opposition’s demand for restoring the caretaker government system to oversee the next general poll.
After assuming power, the AL-led government had amended the Constitution by scrapping the provision of the caretaker government.
“We can form a poll-time government with members from all political parties. I call upon the opposition leader to submit the names from her party’s parliament members who would participate in the poll-time government to avoid confrontation over the next general election. I request the opposition leader to respond to my proposal and to honour my good gesture,” she said in her nationwide broadcast address.
Talking about the 5,777 elections conducted by the present Election Commission under the present government, Hasina claimed that the government did not interfere in those elections. “The next national election will also be free and neutral, Inshaallah,” she said.
Urging the opposition leader to resolve the prevailing political crisis in a peaceful manner, Hasina expressed hope that the next general election would be held with the participation of all political parties to place democracy on a sound footing.
The Prime Minister mentioned that as per Article 123 (3A) of the Constitution, the election would have to be held within 90 days prior to the end of the tenure of the present government.
“As the tenure of the present government ends on January 24, the 90-day count would start from October 25. According to Article 72(1) of the Constitution, the election will be held as per the written advice of the Prime Minister to the President. The Election Commission will declare the election schedule,” she said.
Hasina said she would put forward the written advice to the President after consulting all parties, especially the stakeholders of the Grand Alliance. “I’ll expect advice from the opposition party as well,” she added.
In her 22-minute speech, the Prime Minister urged the opposition to return to the House and bring the adjournment motion on the poll-time government which they had withdrawn on a previous occasion. “If necessary, you can place the adjournment motion in Parliament and clearly state what you want,” she said.
Hasina urged the opposition leader to withdraw the directives issued to her party workers that they must draw weapons to unseat the government. Urging the opposition leader to keep confidence in the people, she said, “Leave the path of anarchy. Please clearly state what you want in Parliament. Our door is always open for discussion.”
Hasina pointed out that power transfer in the country had never been peaceful after the election, except in 2001, when her party handed over power to the winner in a peaceful manner The people did not want to see the caretaker government that took over in 2007, she stated.
“The grand alliance government under the leadership of AL is determined to establish democracy on a strong footing and give it an institutional shape. Democracy will be strengthened when it will be established on the constitutional base and when the representatives elected by the people’s votes will rule the state” she said.
“When the caretaker government like that of 1/11 of 2007 rested upon the people’s chest like that of a non-removable boulder then all including political leaders, students, teachers, professionals and businessmen have to experience untold repression. The common people expect that there will no more be repetition of such a type of unconstitutional rule”.
-With The Independent input
