BNP, on Saturday, warned that the country was headed towards a conflict, because of the ruling Awami League’s adamant stand against having a caretaker government (CG) during the general election.
“We are still hopeful that the government would take an initiative to hold the forthcoming polls under a non-partisan CG. Otherwise, conflict will be inevitable,” BNP acting secretary-general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said.
“The country is heading towards a constitutional crisis, as the Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, has been saying that the ninth parliament would be dissolved by October 25. But experts on the constitution are saying that there is no chance to do so,” he added.
“The people are confused about what will happen after October 25. Awami League will be held responsible, if the country heads towards any untoward situation,” Alamgir told reporters at BNP’s Naya Paltan office. He was speaking after attending a meeting of the party’s general secretaries and other functionaries.
“I urge the government to shun the politics of confrontation, by restoring the CG clause in the Constitution, before the end of its tenure. This would pave the way for impartial and peaceful polls,” he said.
The BNP leader alleged that the Sheikh Hasina was planning to hold the next general election under its own management. “But, people of the country won’t allow the AL to do that,” he added.
Alamgir accused the ruling party of flip-flop on a dialogue with the opposition, to resolve the current political crisis. “LGRD minister and AL spokesman Syed Ashraful Islam, himself, has been underscoring the need for talks on CG. But in the face of pressure, he has started saying that no dialogue over CG issue would be held with the opposition parties,” he added.
Alamgirwas reacting to the minister’s statement, on Friday, that the government would not sit for talks with those who celebrate “fake” birthdays on National Mourning Day.
Alamgir also accused the government of pushing the country towards a “dark tunnel”, by bringing in the 15th Amendment to the Constitution.
He accused the Election Commission (EC) of being submissive to the government. “Holding of the national polls has become uncertain due to the partisan and wayward attitudes of the government, as well as the EC,” he said.
Alamgir informed that BNP chairperson KhaledaZia would meet her party’s highest policy making body, on Saturday, to devise the next course of action to push for the CG restoration demand. She will hold a similar meeting with BNP’sallies on Sunday.
In a separate programme, BNP standing committee member Khandakar Mosharraf Hossain claimed that AL has become nervous and, therefore, planning to hold the next general election under party management.
“Holding of unilateral general polls in the country has never yielded good result. The consequences for AL will be bad if it tries hold a one-party election,” he warned.
Khandakar was addressing a programme to demand whereabouts of missing BNP leader M Ilias Ali and release of Amar Desh acting editor Mahmudur Rahman. It was organised by Sadhinata Forum at the National Press Club.
-With The Independent input
