Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith has claimed that a dialogue between Bangladesh’s warring sides will be held to end the current political crisis and to ensure the holding of the 10th national election on time.
“There will be dialogue, a solution, and the election will be held before Jan 24,” Muhith told reporters after a revenue department meeting at the Chittagong Customs House on Thursday.
He did not, however, explain how this dialogue would be held.
“The election in our country will be like that of any other country that elect their governments through the parliamentary system,” the minister said, citing Malaysia’s example.
As for trade, the minister said imports and exports had increased during the current government’s tenure. Export, which was just worth $16 billion, was now $27 billion, added Muhith.
Regarding the holding of the national election, the government has said it will be held under the current dispensation after the 15th amendment to the constitution scrapped the provision to hold polls under a caretaker regime.
The main opposition BNP, however, has been stridently demanding the restoration of the caretaker system and has threatened to boycott the national election if its demand is not met.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had in May extended the proposal for a dialogue to the BNP but her arch rival BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia dismissed overture and gave the government a 48-hour ultimatum to concede the caretaker demand.
United National Secretary General Ban ki Moon recently urged the two major parties of Bangladesh to sit in a dialogue after which BNP revived issue of dialogue.
Source: Bd news24