Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu . Star file photo
The newly formed polls-time cabinet will be regarded as a “multi-party government” if BNP does not join it, Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu said today.
“The election-time government will be fulfilled when opposition leader sends her representatives to the cabinet,” Inu said during a press briefing at his secretariat office.
“Otherwise, the cabinet will be considered as a multi-party government,” said Inu, also president of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, a component of the Awami League-led grand alliance.
Inu held the briefing to clear the government’s stance on yesterday’s meeting between President Abdul Hamid and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia.
Khaleda yesterday met Hamid and urged the president to take steps towards a consensus between the ruling and the opposition parties for holding a free, fair and participatory election under a non-party government.
On the dialogue on polls-time government, Inu said the government is ready to hold talks with the opposition.
“We will join a dialogue whenever the BNP leader (Khaleda Zia) says when and where she wants to meet,” Inu told reporters.
In a memorandum submitted to the president, Khaleda also spoke about different constitutional changes brought by the government, particularly the 15th amendment, Inu said.
He claimed that Khaleda said the government brought changes into the constitution hurriedly, which was a one-sided effort.
Terming Khaleda’s allegation untrue, Inu said the government made the amendment following several court verdicts and to make the constitution epoch-making.
The changes were brought as per the law of constitution, he said.
Addressing a complaint over the Election Commission made by Khaleda in the memorandum, Inu said a search committee formed the present EC for the first time in the country.
There is no allegation against the EC in holding any elections under its tenure, he said.
Moreover, BNP accepted results of those elections and never brought any formal or informal allegation against the commission, Inu added.
Citing BNP’s allegation that at total of 250 opposition men were killed in last one month, Inu called upon Khaleda to submit a list of those people.
Source: The Daily Star
