Talking to UNB, party senior leaders said they have almost completed the work on making the election-time government outline, and now they are taking the suggestions of other parties like Gono Forum, Bikolpo Dhara Bangladesh, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD-Rob), Nagorik Oikya and the left ones so that they can place a similar framework on it once a greater national unity is forged.
They also said the election-time government framework can be placed either by the greater unity platform or by BNP before the last session of the current parliament begins in October.
The BNP senior leaders said the United Nations and some influential countries may take initiatives so that political parties here can reach an understating over holding a credible and inclusive election, and some representatives from the UN and other international bodies may visit Bangladesh in mid-October or early November.
Under the circumstances, they said, it is very crucial for their party to come up with a comprehensive outline on the election-time government.
A BNP standing committee member wishing anonymity said their party strategists had submitted a draft of the election-time government outline before Khaleda Zia went to jail. “We’re now working on it and will finalise it after taking suggestions from other parties.”
As per the draft outline, he said, the tenure of the election-time government will be three months and it can be formed either amending the Constitution or not amending the Charter.
The BNP leader said their party strategists suggested various formulas on the formation of the supportive government. “But our party senior leaders are in favour of a polls-time government like that of 1991 based on a consensus of all political parties. We may also give a proposal of forming an all-party 10-member cabinet -- five from the existing MPs and five technocrat members from different registered parties-- headed by the President sending the Prime Minister on leave.” He said their strategists also recommended formation of the election-time government comprising former caretaker advisers and non-political accepted persons on the basis of consensus among political parties.
“There’s also a proposal of forming the polls-time government under Sheikh Hasina through curbing her executive power and giving the charges of important ministries to technocrat cabinet members. We’ll finalise the framework after discussions with other opposition parties,” he said.
Contacted, BNP standing committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain said they are working on the framework. “We’re in discussions with other political parties to forge a national unity. Most of the parties don’t want to join the next polls under the current government. So, we’re trying to formulate a comprehensive polls-time government outline so that all parties support it.”
He also said the framework will be presented before people at a suitable time once they reach an understanding with other parties to forge a national unity.
Another party standing committee member, Moudud Ahmed, said though the government is talking about the formation of a polls-time small cabinet, there is no provision in the current Constitution for it.
He said the current government annulled the provision of the election-time interim government through the 15th amendment to the Constitution.
The BNP leader said they are preparing for placing a framework on the election-time government with giving different acceptable and pragmatic options.
Replying to a question, he said, they are now in the process of forging a greater national unity with different opposition parties. “So, we need to take suggestions of other parties before finalising and placing the election-time government framework.”
BNP vice chairman Shamsuzzaman Dudu said though they did not formally announce the framework, their leaders through their statements give an indication that the election must not be held under incumbent Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to ensure their party’s participation in it.
“We’re trying to finalise the election-time government outline as soon as possible as we may reveal it when the next parliament session begins in October,” he added.