BNP standing committee member MK Anwar on Tuesday urged the Speaker of Parliament to take steps to reach a consensus over the non-party caretaker government (CG) issue for holding the next general poll in a free and fair manner. “Compromise between the Awami League and the BNP over the CG issue is a must. We want to sit across the table to settle the issue before placing a proposal in the House in this regard,” he said.
Anwar was addressing a discussion, marking the 32nd death anniversary of the late president Ziaur Rahman at a hotel in the capital on Tuesday.
He said the government has created a political crisis in the country by annulling the non-party CG provision from the Constitution. The government itself can improve the situation simply by reinstating the CG provision to the charter, he added.
Anwar said no one can remain in power forever by ignoring the countrymen’s sentiment. The ruling Awami League will not be allowed to cling on to power through illegal means, he said.
“We’ll take to the street to foil the government’s move to hold the next general election under its own management,” he warned.
BNP leaders Zafrul Hasan, Nasir Uddin Oasim and others spoke at the function, with Babul Sardar, president of the Dhanmandi thana unit Sramik Dal, in the chair.
In a separate programme, ASM Hannan Shah, another standing committee member of the party, said the present Election Commission is playing a partisan role ahead of the four city corporation polls scheduled for June 15.
“The incumbent EC is favouring the government in many ways. The upcoming four city corporation polls will not be held in an impartial manner under its management. It may manipulate the next general poll,” he added.
He was addressing a discussion on “The country’s human rights situation: constitution and reality”, organised by the pro-BNP platform Nagorik Bhabna at the National Press Club on Tuesday afternoon.
Referring to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s statement that Parliament will be dissolved on October 25, he expressed wonder how the next general election can be held under an unelected administration.
At least 90 per cent of people, except Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the next general election to be held under a non-party CG provision, he added.
The BNP-led 18-party alliance will never allow the ruling Awami League to arrange the next general poll under its own management, he said.
-With The Independent input
