Several ministers of the government yesterday said they were expecting the BNP-led 18-party alliance would make up its mind up over the polls-time interim cabinet and participating in the next elections following their meeting with the President Abdul Hamid on Tuesday.
They said if the BNP joined the polls-time government, it would become an all-party government; otherwise it would remain a multiple-party government.
However, if they do not respond positively, the elections would be held without them, as it is must be held, and none could resist it, they said.
Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury said although the government is hopeful of the main opposition’s participation in the upcoming national polls under an all-party government, the elections would be be held on time whether BNP joins or not.
Matia Chowdhury was speaking to the media at her secretariat office yesterday. She said: “The government is still hopeful that BNP will join the polls. But the polls will be held in due time regardless of their participation.”
Asked, she said: “The newly formed polls-time cabinet will be regarded a [multiple-party government], if BNP decides not to join. If BNP joins, the polls will be held under an all-party government.”
Mentioning that the government welcomed BNP’s recent step of meeting the president, Matia said: “The president is the number one and most respectable person in the country. So, we take it positively that BNP has asked for his initiative for reaching a political consensus.”
The government would decide about distributing the portfolios of the minister only after watching the whole situation, she said.
Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu yesterday said: “This cabinet will be multi-party without the BNP. But, with their participation it will be all-party. The door for BNP to join in the polls-time government is still open.”
“The government is prepared to sit for talks with them anywhere and anytime. But, before that, the polls-time cabinet must be finalised,” he told reporters at a press conference at his office in the secretariat premises.
He said the polls-time cabinet was “not a drama,” since the 15th amendment of the constitution permitted the prime minister to make changes in the cabinet anytime.
The nation is still waiting for the full and final interim cabinet that will guide the country through the upcoming national elections in January.
The ministers have handed over their resignation letters to the prime minister, paving the way for the polls-time cabinet.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina handed over those resignation letters to President Abdul Hamid on Monday. The decision of accepting the resignation letters would be finalised shortly, Inu said.
Regarding the political deadlock with the main opposition, the information minister said the government was in touch with the base of the BNP at all times. The minister also noted allegations of biasedness in the administration, saying: “Civil servants must carry out their responsibilities neutrally, or they will be sacked. The changes made recently all followed due procedures.”
The press conference was held a day after the 18-party delegation met the president.
