BNP leader Moudud Ahmed Thursday said the ruling Awami League would be the “worst victim” in case an army-led government was installed.
He made the statement in parliament apparently to counter Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s earlier remark that the BNP chief would have to go to jail if an unelected non-party caretaker government came to power.
Reiterating his party’s firm position on not taking part in any election under an interim government headed by Hasina, the senior opposition leader demanded reinstatement of the provision of the non-party caretaker government system in the constitution.
“We demand that the government restore the provision of non-party caretaker government in the constitution as it was,” Moudud said while delivering his speech on the proposed national budget.
He, however, said the BNP was ready to discuss who could be the head of such an administration and that his party would not propose any formula for the interim government.
Moudud said the Awami League in 1994 was adamant to introduce the caretaker government at the cost of 173 days of hartal and lives of many people. He criticised the present ruling party for having one standard then and another now.
He said the caretaker system came into being because of the mistrust between the two major parties. “The level of mistrust has increased manifolds since 1994; we do not trust you even for a day…We will not participate in any election under a political government,” he said.
He said Hasina had rejected Sir Stephen Ninian’s proposal of an interim government comprising a small cabinet headed by the then elected prime minister Khaleda Zia.
“If anything happens like 1/11, then you – the last incumbent – will be the worst victim; you will be the maximum loser.
“Let us save democracy by holding an election under a non-party government; this will be a matter of respect for all of us,” Moudud said.
He said: “Your [the Awami League’s] main failure is that you cannot establish the rule of law. Because of the lack of rule of law, all your successes have turned lacklustre.”
The former law minister said the present government had been interfering into the judicial system of the country, but praised it for appointing good judges.
“But the judges are either politically influenced or cannot work in line with their oath of office,” he said.
Moudud referred to Justice Shamsuddin Ahmed Manik who accused the speaker of committing seditious offence, and termed him a “sadist judge” the Awami League government had appointed in 2000 by superseding 40 of his colleagues.
Countering him, senior Awami League leader Tofail Ahmed categorically said his party would not agree on the caretaker government issue and the elections would take place under Hasina.
Tofail pointed out that in an informal discussion Moudud had spoken in favour of taking part in the polls.
“There is no question of forming a caretaker government or non-party interim administration,” he said as ruling MPs started thumping desks in the presence of the prime minister.
The Awami League leader said vote rigging was not possible now.