Dhaka, Sept 17 (UNB) - BNP senior leader Moudud Ahmed on Monday said an election-time government like that of 1991 can be formed without amending the Constitution to hold the next general election in a credible and acceptable manner.
 
“Constitution can’t be a barrier to people’s welfare as the charter is meant for people, but people are not meant for it. Justice Shahabuddin Ahmed, then the sitting Chief Justice, became the head of the interim government in 1991 going beyond the Constitution. It was later rectified through the 11th amendment. We can also follow it now,” he said.

Speaking at a discussion, the BNP leader also said the government is now trying to form an election-time cabinet going beyond the Constitution as there’s no such provision in the current charter. “This means a non-party neutral government also can be formed as per our demand going beyond the Constitution.”

Moudud, a BNP standing committee member, urged the government to come forward to install an out-of-constitution polls-time neutral government like that of Justice Shahabuddin Ahmed-led to ‘restore’ democracy, and establish a true representative government through a credible election.

Nasir Uddin Ahmed Pintu Smrity Sangsad arranged the programme at the Jatiya Press Club demanding the release of BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia and all other political prisoners.

Moudud said the next election will not be fair if it is overseen by an election-time cabinet of the current government, led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

The BNP leader also said though the ruling party is now calling the non-party neutral-government system is unconstitutional, the same party claimed it was their brainchild, and enforced hartals for 173 days in 1995-96 for including it in the charter.

About their party secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir’s US tour, he said it seems the Prime Minister and ruling party senior leaders are making ‘unguarded’ remarks on his visit out of their worry and nervousness.

Moudud said Fakhrul never told anyone he was going to meet the United Nations Secretary General. “But they (govt) are making negative and false remarks on it.”

Referring to the BNP secretary general’s meeting with UN Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs Miroslav Jenča at the UN headquarters, he said Fakhrul only depicted the country’s present scenario at the meeting, not lodged any complaint.

“It was our secretary general’s responsibility to present the real condition of the country, the rule of law, judiciary and the basic rights. He also presented the statics on extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances which made the government nervous,” Moudud observed.
 

Dhaka, Sept 16 (UNB) – BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir returned home from the United States via London on Sunday.

The BNP leader landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport by a flight of Emirates Airlines around 5:30pm, said BNP chairperson’s media wing member Sayrul Kabir Khan.

Fakhrul along with party executive committee member Tabith Awal left here for New York, USA early Wednesday.

During his stay in the USA, the BNP leader had a meeting with UN Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs Miroslav Jenča at the UN Headquarters on Thursday.

He had also a meeting with a US State Department official in Washington on Friday.

From Washington, Fakhrul went to London on Saturday and met party acting vice-chairman Tarique Rahman before flying for home.

BNP senior leader Moudud Ahmed at a programme on Friday claimed that their party secretary general went to the UN Headquarters at the invitation of its Secretary General António Guterres.

On Saturday, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at a programme accused BNP of resorting to falsehood over Fakhrul’s visit to the US as it claimed the UN secretary general invited him.

She also said an assistant secretary general of the UN confirmed that the UN chief did not invite Fakhrul. “Rather, the BNP leaders sought his appointment.”
 

Dhaka, Sept 16 (UNB) – Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader on Sunday said all the registered political parties will get permission for holding their programmes at Suhrawardy Udyan in the city following the Prime Minister’s directive.

“Our national election steering committee’s first meeting was held at Ganobhaban yesterday (Saturday). At one stage of the meeting, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina asked me to inform the Police Commissioner to keep Suhrawardy Udyan open to all parties for their meetings and rallies,” he said.

Quader further said, “I’ve given the police commissioner a directive today (Sunday) in this regard. There’s no necessity to hold rallies blocking roads at Paltan or in front of the Jatiya Press Club. Suhrawardy Udyan will remain open, and police will permit those who will seek permission.”

He came up with the remarks while speaking at the 22nd National Council of the Institution of Diploma Engineers Bangladesh (IDEB).

Quader, also the Road Transport and Bridges Minister, said though the government had no objection, police denied permission to some political parties to hold their programmes on various occasions on security concerns. 

“The Prime Minister has clearly instructed the police to permit the registered political parties to hold their programmes at Suhrawardy Udyan,” he added.
 

Dhaka, Sept 16 (UNB) - President Abdul Hamid on Sunday urged the members of Bangladesh Bar Council to take steps for enhancing the professional skills of lawyers.      

He said this when a 10-member delegation of the newly elected members of the Bar Council, led by its Chairman and Attorney General Mahbubey Alam, met him at Bangabhaban.

Abdul Hamid said the role of lawyers is very important in ensuring legal services to people and the Bar Council should take steps for improving the skills of lawyers.      

"The President stressed that the Bar Council should conduct proper inquiry before providing the bar council certificate. You should ensure that only skilled and experienced ones get the certificate," President's Press Secretary Joynal Abedin quoted him as saying during the meeting.

During the meeting, the delegation apprised the President of the activities of the Bar Council and highlighted various steps taken by it for the welfare of lawyers.

They informed that they have taken a plan for constructing a new building for the bar council with an amount of TK 117 crore. 

The delegation sought the President's cooperation for the development of the Bar Council.

The delegation members include its Vice-Chairman Muhammad Yusuf Hussain Humayun, chairman of the legal education committee Kazi Nazibullah Hiru and chairman of the executive committee Syed Rezaur Rahman.

Secretaries concerned to the President were also present.

Dhaka, Sept 16 (UNB) – Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader on Sunday said the next general election will be a competitive one even if BNP does not join it.

Speaking at the 22nd National Council of the Institution of Diploma Engineers Bangladesh (IDEB), he also termed unconstitutional, unnecessary and irrelevant Jatiya Oikya initiators’ 5-point demand, including installation of the neutral government, dissolution of parliament and deployment of army with magistracy power.

“We know there’ll be no shortage of competitors this time even if BNP doesn’t join the polls…all will get elected through contesting the polls,” he said.

Quader, also the Road Transport and Bridges Minister, said 11th parliamentary elections will be held as per the Constitution. “There’s no scope to go beyond the Constitution.”

As his attention was drawn to Jukta Front and Jatiya Oikya Prokriya’s demand for dissolution of parliament before the polls, he said the national election will be held without dissolving parliament like neighbouring and other countries in the world.

About army deployment, the ruling party leader said, “We won’t say the army won’t be deployed in the next polls. If the situation demands, the army will be deployed. The government will take the decision on army deployment considering the practical situation and necessity if the Election Commission makes a request for it.”

Quader turned down the demand for reconstituting the Election Commission as she thinks the current one is working independently. “Even, there’s a BNP representative in it.”

Quader said Suhrawardy Udyan will remain open for all the registered political parties for their programmes from now on as the Prime Minister has given an instruction in this regard. “It’s now open for all, and police will give permission if any party wants to use it for their programmes.”