Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina addresses the nation at 7:30pm on Friday.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has proposed an election-time all-party government.
“We want to hold the election with participation of all parties. My proposal to the opposition party is that we can form an all-party election-time government,” she said in her address to the nation Friday evening.
In the around 20-minute speech, the premier called upon the opposition to propose names from their lawmakers for their inclusion in the cabinet council of the polls-time administration.
She asked the opposition leader to shun the path of violence and come to the parliament for a discussion on their demand. “We are still open to a dialogue.”
Hasina, who also heads the ruling Awami League, said according to the Section-1 of Article 72 of Bangladesh Constitution, the election will be held as per the prime minister’s written instruction to the president and the Election Commission will announce the schedule for the national election.
“After consulting with all parties — particularly the grand alliance –I will give a written instruction to the president so that the election is held within 90 days,” she said. “I will also expect suggestions from the opposition in this regard.”
State-run Bangladesh Television, Bangladesh Betar and private TV and radio stations broadcast live address that started at 7:30pm.
At the fag end of the AL-led grand alliance tenure, the premier cleared the stance of the government on different issues with national importance.
The address comes at a time when a stalemate has been created due to confrontation between two major political parties over the upcoming general election.
Sheikh Hasina highlighted the achievements of her government in the nearly past five years.
The country is now passing through a stormy political situation as both the ruling and opposition parties are on collision course over the next general election.
Both the ruling and opposition parties called rallies for October 25 in Dhaka city to stage their showdowns, heightening tension across the country.
Source: The Daily Star