The BNP can still be part of the ‘all-party’ Cabinet, said a senior Awami League leader Tuesday and suggested the number of the opposition party’s ministers could be as high as a dozen.
Replying to a reporter’s query, Presidium member Obaidul Quader said he saw no problem giving the BNP that many cabinet positions given the number of ministers Gen Ershad’s Jatiya Party got.
“Why not,” he said when a reporter asked if the BNP number would be proportionate to that of the JP.
“We are still hoping the the Opposition will join the all-party interim government,” the Communications Minister said.
His comments came a day after eight ministers took oath to be part of the polls-time government. Two of them were state ministers, both from Jatiya Party.
Three of the Jatiya Party nominees became cabinet ministers.
The ‘all-party’ formation saw return of two of the best known Awami League veterans – Amir Hossain Amu and Tofail Ahmed.
The process of forming an all-party cabinet began with ministers handing their resignations to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina last week.
The all-party interim government is being set up to supervise the upcoming national elections slated for January.
File Photo
The Awami League Presidium Member said the ‘all-party’ government had been formed for the benefit of the country.“It would have been better if the Opposition had joined it,” he said.
Quader had said on Monday they were keeping up back-channel contacts with the Opposition to get them on board.
The BNP, however, has rejected the ‘all-party’ government, terming it a ‘farce’.
Opposition Leader Khaleda Zia will meet President Abdul Hamid on Tuesday evening to seek, what the party leaders say, his intervention to end the political impasse.
Quader said the field-level BNP leaders and activists were keen to take part in the polls.
He feels the BNP’s existence would be at stake if it chose to stay away.
He said the constituents of the ‘all-party’ cabinet would become clear by Tuesday evening.
Source: Bd news24