Eminent jurist and Gonoforum president Dr Kamal Hossain on Wednesday said the people demands an election under a ‘neutral government’ like the one in 2008 and there is no other alternative to it for resolving the current political stalemate.
“We, the people of the country, want the next election to be like that in 2008. We want the Election Commission and the administration to be the ones observed that time,” he said at a press conference at his residence at Bailey Road in the city.
Dr Kamal said: “We want an election where there will be no DC (deputy commissioner), SP (superintendent of police) and returning officer appointed by this (current) government.”
He also observed that it would create a congenial atmosphere for both the ruling and the opposition parties to contest in the polls “if the Prime Minister (Sheikh Hasina) resigns or take steps to curb her executive powers.”
The Gonoforum President said that while the ruling party is not moving ahead with a plan to restore the confidence of the opposition about the next polls, the opposition party, in retaliation, is not also playing a responsible role.
“Violence and vandalism can’t be the way to realise the demands,” he added..
Asked whether he is hopeful about any positive change in the political scenario in case the President intervenes, Dr Kamal replied: “There are limitations in the President’s power. But the President can act as the guardian of all in the state by advising the sides involved in the contention.”
Asked whether he is afraid of a 1/11 like situation when he desires to have an election like that of 2008, he said: “There are reasons to fear that. We’ve met the President to request him to intervene, with hopes that such thing doesn’t happen.”
In November 1 of 2007, an army-backed caretaker government assumed the state power amid violent clashes between the then ruling and opposition alliances over the general election.
Dr Kamal also said that the distribution of executive power of both the President and the Prime Minister as defined in the Constitution badly needs a review under the present situation.
“The power of the President and the Prime Minister as it was fixed in the 1972 constitution under a totally different context needs some review.”
Besides, for longer term solution of the problems in the democratic process of the country, there is the need for limiting the premiership of a person to two terms, he added.
Source: UNB Connect
