Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday severely criticised those favouring the formation of a non-party caretaker administration to oversee the next general election.
She also said that many of the government’s critics offered wrong interpretation of the Constitution regarding the tenure of the last army-backed caretaker government, and many of the advisors to the poll-time administration had failed to govern efficiently.
“So playing games with the country’s democracy will not be acceptable,” she said in her introductory speech at an interactive session at her official residence, Ganabhaban, with grassroots level Awami League leaders from Faridpur district.
Without naming names, Hasina said: “Who had suggested that the caretaker government could continue in office till Roz-e-Qayamat (literally the ‘day of judgment’)? Many internationally recognised lawyers and constitution experts.”
The Fakhruddin Ahmed-led caretaker government had governed the country unconstitutionally for around two years, well beyond its 90-day timeframe to hold the election.
The Prime Minister said: “What advice did our constitutional experts and internationally recognised lawyers give to the caretaker government. (They said that) …. As per the Constitution, they could be in office for an indefinite period until the next Prime Minister is elected.”
Hasina also criticised a section of ‘journalists and civil society representatives’ who are currently debating the framework of an interim government to oversee the elections. She asked them to read the newspaper reports of 2007-08 again.
The Prime Minister said the intension of the Awami League was not to deprive the people of their voting rights but to protect their constitutional rights.
She said the nation had seen a peaceful handover of power (to Justice Latifur Rahman-led caretaker government) in 2001 when Awami League was in power.
On the other hand, then President lajuddin Ahmed had taken over the office of the Chief Advisor on completion of the BNP-led government’s five-year term, Hasina recalled.
“The then Chief Election Commissioner Justice Mr. Aziz was blessed by them (BNP). He used to obey their orders.”
Source: bdnews24
