Acceptability of election to depend on voters’ turnout : Menon, Amu
Newly-appointed ministers including Amir Hossain Amu, Tofail Ahmed and Rashed Khan Menon on Sunday said that the main responsibility of the polls-time interim cabinet was to assist the Election Commission in holding a free, fair and participatory election.
They said the 10th parliamentary elections would be held on time as stipulated in the constitution and hoped that the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party would join it finally.
On their first day in office at the secretariat, telecommunications minister Rashed Khan and land minister Amir Hossain told reporters that the election would be questionable if the majority of the people refrain from casting votes, no matter which party boycotts it.
The new ministers’ statements came in the wake of the BNP-led 18-party alliance’s threat to boycott the upcoming elections if its demand for a non-party caretaker government was not accepted by the Awami League-led government.
‘Our main task is to assist the Election Commission in conducting a free and fair election. This is a polls-time interim government and so we will not take any major policy decision,’ housing and works minister Tofail told an introductory meeting with the officials and employees at the secretariat.
He cautioned the government employees against perceived dishonest practices at the works ministry and other departments under its jurisdiction.
‘My topmost priority here is to maintain honesty. You all must discharge your responsibility with utmost honesty,’ the senior Awami League leader said.
Tofail, however, said he would not like to turn his ministry into a party office.
Replying to a question, he said efforts were on to bring the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party to the national elections.
Rashed Khan Menon, also president of Workers Party of Bangladesh, told reporters that the main responsibility of the interim government was to make the election free, fair and participatory.
Asked whether the election would be participatory and acceptable without BNP, the left leaning leader said the election would be questionable only if majority of the people refrain from casting their votes.
Amir Hossain, also responsible for disaster management ministry, said the election would be held on time even if the BNP boycotts it. ‘The acceptability of the election depends on the turnout of the people, not on which party participates in the polls,’ said the senior AL leader, responding to reporters.
Sheikh Hasina on November 18 reorganised her cabinet by inducting eight new faces, mostly from the Ershad-led Jatiya Party, ahead of the general polls, scheduled to be held by January 24 next year.
Awami League advisory council members Tofail Ahmed and Amir Hossain Amu, Workers Party of Bangladesh president Rashed Khan Menon, Jatiya Party secretary general ABM Ruhul Amin Hawlader and presidium members Rowshan Ershad and Anisul Islam Mahmud were sworn in as ministers while two more Jatiya Party leaders – Mojibul Haque Chunnu and Salma Islam – took oath as state ministers on the day.
All the new ministers joined their offices at the secretariat on Sunday after their portfolios were distributed on Thursday afternoon.
Rowshan Ershad and Ruhul Amin also sought cooperation of all in discharging their responsibilities in the polls-time government.
‘Our main responsibility is to overcome the political crisis and support the Election Commission in holding the polls in a free and fair manner,’ Ruhul Amin said.
Rowshan Ershad said she would continue as member of the smaller cabinet until the election was held.
Routine activities at the secretariat were affected in many ministries as officials and employees were busy receiving their new ministers. Some old ministers who have got additional ministries also visited their new offices.
-With New Age input
