Opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) will not budge even an inch either from its position to hold the next general election under a non-party caretaker government, BNP sources say. The party further consolidated its position following Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s recent statement that her government would not deviate at all from the current Constitutional provisions on the holding of the next general election in the country.
In response to the prime minister’s firm statement, opposition leader Khaleda Zia at a meeting on Monday threatened that such an irresistible movement would be launched that its “wind would blow away the hair of the prime minister.”
Talking to The Independent, several senior leaders of BNP said the opposition would not take part in the general elections under any circumstances by keeping the ruling Awami League in power.
They said the demand for restoration of the non-party caretaker government is now a demand of the people and they would resist any election if it is not held under the supervision of a caretaker government.
Meanwhile, the BNP is still undecided whether or not it will join the next session of parliament beginning September 12.
However, some BNP leaders hinted that the opposition lawmakers might not join the next parliament session if the government does not place a bill in the House for restoration of a poll-time caretaker government provision to the Constitution.
“Question doesn’t arise to change our position on the holding of the election under a non-party caretaker administration whatever the name is,” said BNP standing committee member MK Anwar.
He said the opposition gave time to the government over and over for restoration of the CG system to the Constitution. The BNP leader made it clear that they want a non-party government whatever the name is to oversee the next elections.
“The opposition will not take part in the polls keeping the ruling Awami League party in power. People will resist such move,” he said.
He said there is still time to hold talks as to who would be the chief of the non-party government and what would be its modalities.
Anwar said they would join the forthcoming session of parliament if the government places a bill in the House for restoration of the non-party caretaker government system.
Another standing committee member of the BNP Barrister Rafiqul Islam Miah said the people want election under the supervision of a non-party government. “We will be with the people and there is no scope to change our position,” he added.
The BNP leader said there is no way to hold a free, fair and meaningful election under a political government.
“The government repealed the caretaker government system from the Constitution to retain power. Now it is the government’s responsibility to restore the CG by bringing necessary amendment to the Constitution to hold a free and fair election,” he said.
Sharing the same line of argument, opposition Chief Whip Zainul Abdin Farroque said the opposition leader Khaleda Zia already asked the government to introduce a bill to the parliament for restoration of the non-party caretaker government to ensure a participatory poll.
-With The Independent input
