Foreign Minister Dipu Moni today called the type of government as a non-significant issue for credible polls as the opposition was spreading a campaign to restore the caretaker government to oversee the upcoming parliament election. “Caretaker system or any other form of government matters little unless there is an independent and strong election commission,” she said in an interaction with editors and chief executive officers of mainstream newspapers, news agencies and electronic media.
Dipu Moni, however, acknowledged future electoral process to be the prime issue of the country’s current politics but added that the government accomplished the most crucial task of ensuring credibility of general elections by developing an independent and stronger election commission.
She said a search committee identified people who were more credible competent to run the election commission which now enjoys complete financial freedom under the govt.
Dipu Moni, however, questioned the motive of the opposition campaign particularly their activities in recent days fearing these actually were aimed at spoiling the war crimes trial and prolonging the trial of BNP chief and ex-premier Begum Khaleda Zia and her sons on graft charges.
“The vandalism carried out by Jamaat and violent demonstration of Hefazat indicate that these were linked to her (Begum Zia) 48-hour ultimatum,” she said.
Replying to questions on campaigns about death toll in police actions over Hefazat’s Dhaka siege programme, the minister said history suggested that Awami League never believed in politics of killing opponents.
“Our leader (Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina) survived at least 20 assassination attempts but her opponent faced no such attempt,” Dipu Moni said.
Senior journalists including Ittefaq Editor Anwar Hossain Manju, Daily Star editor Mahfuz Anam, Prothom Alo editor Matiur Rahman and Channel ‘71 CEO Mozammel Babu, among others, took part in the discussions on the recent political and foreign relation issues and other matters.
Mahfuz Anam appreciated the efficient handling of the Savar collapse saying Bangladesh was proud of the efficient salvage campaign. He also praised the premier for dialogue proposal and expected to see tangible subsequent steps to make it effective.
“I propose Syed Ashraful Islam to visit in person the BNP office carrying the dialogue proposal,” Anam said.
-With The Independent input
