Two senior leaders of the ruling Awami League and the opposition BNP have taken the polls-time government formula proposed by the Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) positively.
“Though there’s no environment for discussion, we’ll talk about the proposal in the party forum if the proposal comes formally,” BNP standing committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain told the BBC Bangla.
He said all the senior leaders are now in jail. “In this situation, who will discuss with whom? There’s no environment for discussions. We’ll see what reaction comes from the government on the TIB proposal because government’s reaction is important.”
The discussion should be held maintaining the constitutional obligations, he added.
In another function at the Press Club today, Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain said the TIB proposal on the framework of polls-time government makes it clear neutral and fair election is not possible under a partisan government.
Welcoming the proposal, Mosharraf said it (proposal) will be effective if the government shows sincerity to it and the consent of the opposition.
Making a counter-allegation against BNP of obstructing the path of dialogue, Awami League joint general secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif told the BBC Bangla, “The TIB proposal could be discussed in Parliament.”
He said the discussion should be held based on the Constitution guides. “We can reach a decision through discussions. It can be discussed in Parliament after discussing the TIB proposal in the party forum.”
Though the two parties showed positive attitude about the various proposals, they have objection about any mediator. “Crisis should be resolved within political leaders,” Khondkar Mosharraf Hossain said.
He said the political parties can resolve the crisis if the government shows sincerity. “Two major parties will have to resolve the crisis.”
Awami League leader Hanif said both the two parties are interested to have dialogue. “Especially the government is calling for dialogue. So there’s no need for mediation.”
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday turned down all those new formulas coming up these days from various quarters. “These new formulas will only create more complexities…these won’t help strengthen democracy and maintain its uninterrupted march forward,” she said in a views-exchange meeting with the grassroots-level leaders from Pabna district at her official residence Ganobhaban.
Both the ruling and opposition parties have long been at loggerheaded over how the election will be held — will it be under an elected government or under unelected one.
So far, there is now communication between Awami League and BNP to resolve the political crisis and both the camps remained stuck to their respective positions.
On Friday, the TIB, the graft watchdog body, proposed formation of a committee taking equal number of members from both the ruling and opposition alliances to select polls-time government for holding a free and fair election.
According to the proposal, a Parliamentary Consensus Committee will be formed in the 30 days before the incumbent parliament’s tenure expires.
The committee will select 10 members and one chief for the polls-time government. The Speaker will form the committee following recommendations of political parties.
Source: UNBConnect