BNP which earlier backed out from a probable discussion on polls-time administration in parliament will present a concept paper on restoration of the non-party caretaker government in the constitution today.
The concept paper will be presented at a discussion meeting arranged by its parliamentary caucus ahead of the last session starting on September 12.
Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, the BNP acting secretary general, will speak as the chief guest and respond to the questions of the party lawmakers on a non-party caretaker government.
The party lawmakers view the meeting as a way of communicating with the government ahead of the last session of the current parliament.
Similarly, the meeting in the form of question-answer pattern will also help brief the donor representatives who will be attending the meeting supported by the donor-funded project Prodip.
Zainul Abdin Farroque, the chief whip of the opposition, will present the keynote paper on Non-party Caretaker/Interim Government, Corruption and Law and Order Situation at the meeting in the Parliament Members Club on the Jatiya Sangsad premises.
Awami League has repeatedly urged the opposition to present its thought on restoration of the caretaker or interim government in parliament but the party has rejected the offer terming it a “farce call."
BNP categorically said it would in no way contest the next polls under an interim administration headed by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. At least 10 designated lawmakers will ask the secretary general about the party position on mainly the mode of fair election.
Nazim Uddin Ahmed, AKM Hafizur Rahman, Joynal Abdin, Rumana Mahmood, Rehana Akter Ranu, Musammat Shammi Akther, Rasheda Begum Hira, ZIM Mostofa Ali, Harun-Ur Rashid and Nilufar Chowdhury Moni will question Fakhrul.
“We would like to draw the government (through this meeting) attention to the restoration of the provision of the non-party caretaker government in the constitution for free, fair and unhindered polls,” Farroque told Dhaka Tribune on Sunday. He said Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir would present the party position on the non-party caretaker government which the ruling Awami League is stubbornly refusing to do.
“The paper will, of course, reflect the BNP’s official position on restoration of the non-party caretaker government. We will share our thoughts,” Hafizur Rahman said.
AM Mahbub Uddin Khokon, a BNP lawmaker, in the last session submitted a notice for a discussion on the restoration of the non-party caretaker government. Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury also hinted that it was accepted. But the notice was withdrawn later.
Khaleda Zia delivered a long speech in the House in the last session, but she never talked about her party’s thought on restoration of the non-party caretaker government.
In its election manifesto in 2008 BNP pledged to make parliament the “focus of all discussion.
The party, however, resorted to three long spells of parliament boycott and returned to the House apparently to save their membership.
