Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said she has no reservations about a ‘compromise’ with the opposition on an all-party interim government to oversee the general election but insisted that the balloting must be held in a democratic manner.
With the statement at a press conference on Friday evening, Hasina in effect again ruled out the BNP’s demand for a non-party caretaker administration.
She said the BNP’s precondition of a non-party government for dialogue with the government was ‘unfortunate’. “How the election-time government will be run can be discussed during dialogue with the opposition.”
“If any understanding needs to be reached, even if an interim government needs to be formed with representatives from all parties, I said earlier we won’t have objection (to that). But I want the election be held in a democratic way,” said the President of the Awami League.
Hasina invited the Opposition Leader to dialogues amid demands from several quarters for such meets against the backdrop of opposite stances of the two main parties over the next interim administration.
But the BNP said on Thursday it would formally respond to invitation by the Prime Minister after the government accedes to its non-party caretaker government demand.
At the press conference at her official residence Ganabhaban, the Prime Minister spoke of the government position on the Savar building collapse and demand of Hifazat-e Islam.
Later, she talked about dialogues and demand of the opposition while taking questions from the media.
Asked when a formal proposal for the dialogues would be made, Hasina said: “That will be made at an appropriate time. But it’s unfortunate that they’ve set pre-condition.”
“Accommodation is needed. I cannot be rigid. I was never rigid. But there is no compromise on the question of principle.”
The Prime Minister rejected the demand for non-party caretaker government. “There will be no unconstitutional government. Everything will be among us. No more of this unelected government.”
She referred to the election culture in the UK, Malaysia, Canada and Australia and said: “The Cabinet doesn’t have meetings and Parliament doesn’t sit once election schedule is announced. At the time there is no Cabinet, no Parliament. The government conducts only the everyday affairs at the suggestions of the President.”
Asked how much the Prime Minister would compromise, she said the government can determine it through discussions.
Source: Bd news24