PM invites BNP to join interim govt; Khaleda says ‘no’
Ruling out the restoration of caretaker government system, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has suggested forming a “small cabinet” including the opposition ahead of the next parliamentary polls.
In an interview scheduled for broadcast today, Hasina told BBC Bangla Service that she would allow if the opposition wants to be part of the government.
“We can have a small cabinet at that time. We can discuss it. They [opposition] should come up with their suggestion before parliament.”
In June last year, the provision that mandated a non-elected caretaker government to oversee the national elections was scrapped through a constitutional amendment in line with a Supreme Court verdict.
Meanwhile, apparently rejecting the prime minister’s suggestion, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia yesterday said the next general election must be held under a non-party government.
“People don’t want to see this government anymore. And that is why the next election must be held under a neutral administration. Political parties will not accept any other form of government during that time,” she told an Iftar party at the LD hall at parliament complex.
Pro-BNP physicians’ platform Doctors’ Association of Bangladesh hosted the party.
Urging all to be united to wage a tougher anti-government movement after Eid, Khaleda said the present government has completely failed to run the country and the people want to get out of this situation.
The government will be ousted through a vigorous movement to save the people from its misrule, she noted. “We will go for movement not to return to power, but to save the country and its people from the miserable situation.”
Former president Prof AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury, BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, former health minister Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, spoke, among others.
Courtesy of The Daily Star
