Khaleda Zia has again called for amending the Constitution that ruling MPs say allows the upcoming general elections without having to dissolve Parliament.
“Elections to a Parliament cannot take place without dissolving another Parliament,” the BNP Chairperson told a programme on Thursday night where she exchanged greetings with Hindus marking the Janmashtami, the birthday of Lord Sri Krishna.
The three-time Prime Minister also said, “The next elections will have to be held under a non-partisan government after dissolving Parliament.”
The elections, due between October and January, will be held with the current 10th Parliament remaining undissolved due to the 15th Constitutional Amendment in Jun 2011.
The opposition has complained there would no scope for an equal fight in the polls if these are staged before scrapping Parliament membership of the lawmakers.
On the other hand, leaders of the ruling party argue that if the Speaker was to order the elections to be held while remaining in the chair after dissolving Parliament, the MPs, in the absence of a protocol, will not be able to gain any unfair advantage.
The elections will be held under the incumbent Awami League government as the Constitutional amendment scrapped the caretaker provision.
The BNP has been demonstrating seeking restoration of the provision the moment it was scrapped. It has been saying election under a partisan government can never be ‘free and credible.’
Regarding these two matters, Khaleda said, “The government should bring amendments in the Parliament session beginning Sep 12 to settle the anomalies in the Constitution regarding the holding of the elections.”
“An atmosphere that will allow all parties to take part in the elections should be created for the sake of peace and development,” the opposition chief added.
She alleged the election would never be fair with the current Prime Minister in office.
“They have politicised everything… public administration, police, judiciary,” she alleged.
“The DCs and SPs will follow her orders if she (Sheikh Hasina) remains the Prime Minister during the time of elections.”
“They will never pay heed to any of our complaints. How will the elections be fair then?”
Khaleda also slated the Election Commission as a ‘puppet’ of the government and ‘worthless.’
Without naming the Chief Election Commissioner, she said, “He was an obedient government official. He worked as a Secretary at the primary education ministry when I was in power.”
“Such a weak and worthless man has been made the CEC. He will definitely listen to the government.”
The BNP chief alleged the Hasina-led government used terrorism and torture on minorities as a “weapon against BNP.”
“The terrorism rose in their (Awami League) tenure. They did not take any action then.”
“I will not deny that there was terrorism during our tenure. But we ensured justice by arresting the Bangla Bhai, Shaekh Abdur Rahman alive.”
“We don’t believe in the term ‘minority’. We all are Bangladeshi,” she told the programme held at her Gulshan office.
She blamed the recent attacks on Hindu temples, Buddhist Viharas on the government and alleged that the vested properties were being illegally occupied by the ruling party leaders.
The former Prime Minister also criticised the government for its role surrounding the murder of old Dhaka youth Biswajit Das.
“All of those accused of the murder are Chhatra League activists,” she said.
Khaleda also urged the Hindus to join BNP.
“Shrug the sluggishness off and join the BNP to realise narrow the Awami League is and how liberal the BNP is,” she added.
Source: Bd news24