The opposition BNP has warned the government against forming a poll-time interim Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
BNP Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi cautioned the government after Awami League Presidium Member Mohammad Nasim said a 16-member Cabinet under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina would conduct the next general election.
“People will resist the initiative with full force and cast it in a waste vat,” said Rizvi.
He held a press conference at his party’s Naya Paltan headquarters on Friday giving the BNP’s reaction to Nasim’s statement.
The senior BNP leader felt such statements from ruling politicians would only deepen the present political crisis.
“People from all walks of life and the opposition parties will not accept the formation by force of such a Cabinet under the chief of a particular party,” said Rizvi.
Nasim had said, “The next parliamentary election will be held according to the Constitution. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will lead a 16-member Cabinet at that time.”
“They will run the (interim) government and the EC (Election Commission) will organise the elections.”
The next election is likely to be held under the ruling Awami League as the caretaker government system has been revoked.
The poll-time regime will be in the nature of an ‘interim government’. It will not take any policy decisions but oversee the routine administration functions.
The Constitution makes it mandatory for the 10th election to be held from Oct 25 to Jan 24. The BNP has threatened to topple the government after Oct 24 if the non-party caretaker government system is not reinstated in the Constitution by then.
Rizvi reiterated his party’s resolve to boycott the election if held under a party-led government and threatened the government of dire consequences if it did not change its position regarding the poll-time administration.
He also criticised the Prime Minister for having said the opposition leader was reluctant to go to court, fearing punishment. He said he wondered if the PM had prior knowledge of what the court’s decision would be.
Rizvi hinted at government’s influence over court in penalizing opposition leaders and activists.
Source: Bd news24