Opposition BNP on Saturday welcomed UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s offer for talks between the government and the opposition to ensure a free and fair national election with the participation of all.
“The UN Secretary-General voiced concern over the prevailing political deadlock over the next general election and called for a dialogue to overcome it. We welcome his initiative,” said senior BNP leader Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain.
Addressing a discussion at the National Press Club, the BNP leader also said, “Now not only the country’s 90 percent people but also international community and the United Nations want to see an acceptable election with the participation of all parties.”
Zia Parishad, a pro-opposition platform, arranged the programme demanding restoration of the caretaker government and the release of Amar Desh acting editor Mahmudur Rahman and Odhikar secretary general Adilur Rahman.
In an apparent move by the UN to resolve the country’s ongoing political deadlock over the nature of polls-time administration, Ban Ki-moon on Friday phoned Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Opposition Leader Khaleda Zia.
Voicing the UN concern over the political stalemate in Bangladesh that cast a shadow in the next election, he also asked the country’s two top leaders to reach an understanding through talks to hold a free, fair and credible election with the participation of all parties.
Mosharraf, also a BNP standing committee member, said there is no alternative to holding the polls under a non-party caretaker government to ensure the participation of all parties in it.
Referring to the Prime Minister’s call for the opposition to place a proposal in parliament about the nature of the polls-time administration, Mosharraf said, “It’s a plot …we’ve only 35 lawmakers in the parliament. If we place any proposal, the ruling party will reject it through voice vote.”
During the conversation with Ban Ki-moon, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina told him, “We’ll welcome any proposal from them (Opposition) in the next parliament session.”
Rejecting the PM’s call, the BNP leader said, “If our proposal is rejected by the House, the government then will say restoration of the caretaker not possible as the proposal to this end was voided by parliament. “We won’t step into the government’s trap.”
He urged the ruling party to table a bill in this regard as it has two-thirds majority in parliament. “We’ll extend our support to it.”
Mosharraf warned that they will ensure the fall of the government through a mass upsurge, if it tries to hold a lopsided election under a partisan administration.
He also demanded the immediate release of Mahmudur Rahman and Adilur Rahman.
Source: UNBConnect
