BNP spokesperson Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has reminded Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who has been terming the past caretaker government unconstitutional, about her attending the installation ceremony of Fakhruddin Ahmed, Chief Advisor to the post-1/11 caretaker government.
The Acting Secretary General was responding to the Prime Minister’s dismissal of the demand to restore caretaker government and brought up the issue of the military-backed caretaker government.
Fakhrul told a discussion at the National Press Club in Dhaka, “The Prime Minister told a programme today that any unconstitutional government that comes in the guise of caretaker government will refuse to leave power.”
“I will tell the Prime Minister, you had gone to that unconstitutional swearing-in ceremony at Bangabhaban to say ‘this government is the result of our campaign’. It was you who said after getting out on parole and before the leaving the country that you will legitimise the government once you return to power.”
Awami League President Hasina was present at the oath-taking ceremony that took place during political unrest and a state of emergency in 2007 but no one from BNP was present.
The army-backed caretaker regime ended up staying in power for two years, during which time both the top leaders of Bangladesh were detained in jail.
The ruling Awami League, through the 15th amendment to the Constitution, scrapped the caretaker government provision after it returned to power.
Taking a dig at the main opposition party, which has been campaigning for the restoration of caretaker-government system, Hasina said on Thursday, “If a caretaker government is restored, it will never relinquish power….. What will they (BNP leaders) do then? Will they then strike their foreheads and weep.”
Fakhrul in response to the Prime Minister’s comment said the demand for a caretaker cannot be brushed aside with excuses.
The BNP leader said the local government elections and a national one were not the same. “We all have seen what happened during elections in Bhola and Brahmanbaria under the incumbent government.”
“There is no alternative to a non-partisan, neutral government for the general elections,” he added.
Addressing Hasina, Fakhrul said, “Don’t waste time. Create a field for a game so that everyone can play equally.”
He alleged the Awami League failed in running the country and added “there is darkness everywhere. Everyone is scared now”.
Responding to Hasina’s recent remark on Hifazat-e Islam, Fakhrul said, “The Prime Minister has lied in Parliament. She did not express grief, rather ridiculed the May 5 incident in Motijheel.”
Source: Bd news24
