Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday proposed the formation of an all-party government to hold polls and appealed to the opposition to give names from their lawmakers for the interim cabinet.
“We want the national election to be participated by all political parties. Our proposal to the opposition party is that we can form the election-time government comprising [representatives from] all parties. Hence, I am offering the opposition party that they can provide names of their lawmakers so that we can make them cabinet members of the interim government, so that no one cast doubt on the polls,” she said.
The premier said: “I am requesting the opposition leader [Khaleda Zia] to respond to my call, keep my request and value our good intention with a positive gesture.”
She also sought the opposition’s recommendations over holding the polls within 90 days after October 25 in line with the constitution, saying that the ninth parliament commenced on January 25, 2009. However, the 90-day count before January 24 starts on October 27.
Hasina, also the ruling Awami League president, made the remarks while addressing the nation last evening. State-run Bangladesh Television and Bangladesh Betar, private TV channels and radio stations aired the around 20-minute speech. The prime minister addressed the nation last time on January 11, on the eve of completion of her government’s four years in office.
She, however, did not specify who would head the election-time government and what would be the size of the cabinet and the proportion of participation from parties.
Hasina made the appeal at a time when both the ruling government and the opposition parties are at loggerheads over the election-time structure. Both the parties have declared rallies for October 25 in the capital, sparking nationwide tension and speculations.
The BNP immediately after the prime minister’s speech said it would give formal reaction later. Party spokesperson Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, however, mentioned that such proposal was not new and that Hasina had not said who would lead the interim government.
The speech received positive response from political analysts and the general public who saw it an opportunity to end the impasse and pave the way for a credible and participatory election.
The prime minister also requested the opposition leader to withdraw the call for getting ready with knives, machetes and axes for the October 25 rally at Suhrawardy Udyan.
“Avoid the path of anarchy. Keep trust in people. The path of peace and consensus will bring the people’s welfare,” she said. “Stop burning the holy Qur'an, setting fire to mosques and defaming Islam. Stop using the orphans in making deadly bombs in madrasas. Stop burning innocent pedestrians and poor bus drivers to death. Let the people live in peace.”
The premier claimed that her government had not interfered in the process of holding over 5,700 elections during the current tenure.
“As per article 72(1) of the constitution, the election will be held as per written advice of the prime minister to the president. The Election Commission will declare the schedule for polls,” Hasina said adding that she would request the president after consulting with all the political parties, especially the Grand Alliance partners. “Thus I expect the opposition's recommendation in this regard.”
The incumbent government is determined to put democracy on a firm institutional base, she said. “Democracy will be strengthened when it will be established on a constitutional base and the country is run by the elected representatives,” she said in her address.
Sharing the bitter experiences of the previous military-backed caretaker government of 1/11, Hasina said the people did not want to see repetition of such unconstitutional rule any more. She also blamed the BNP for inviting the pathetic chapter like 1/11 changeover on January 11, 2007.
The premier once again stressed the need for dialogue and said the door for dialogue was open from the government side.
She called upon the opposition to join parliament and bring an adjournment motion on the polls-time government again. “If necessary, you [opposition party] can place the adjournment motion in parliament and clearly say what you want.”
The BNP earlier tabled a similar motion to hold talks on the issue but later withdrew it.
Earlier on Eid day, Hasina said the door for dialogue over the next general election was still open. “The country will remain normal after October 25 if the opposition leader does not make provocative remarks,” she said.
The same day, BNP chief and former premier Khaleda Zia called upon the government to create an atmosphere for a credible election through dialogues. She claimed that her party was not seeking violence, rather peace. “Our demand is simple. We want the national elections to be held under a non-partisan caretaker government.”
In her address on Friday, Hasina also briefly described the achievements of her government and misdeeds of the previous BNP-Jamaat coalition government.
In the concluding part of her address, Hasina recalled the bloodbath of August 15, 1975, in which most of her family members had been killed.
She mentioned about her youngest brother Sheikh Russell, who was also slain that day at the age of 10, as on Friday was his 49th birth anniversary. Hasina urged the countrymen to pray for his departed soul.