United News of Bangladesh

BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Wednesday said once this interim government takes the form of a caretaker administration, no person with political party links should remain in it to ensure neutrality. “When the current government starts functioning as a caretaker administration, no one with links to any political party can be kept in it, because the very concept of a caretaker government is based on neutrality,” he said. Speaking at a press conference at BNP’s Nayapaltan central office, the BNP leader said there is no scope for any partisan individual or anyone with party identity to be included in a non-party, neutral polls-time government. Take ‘caretaker mood’, drop controversial advisers: Khosru to govt Rizvi said that the polls-time caretaker must demonstrate neutrality and non-partisanship to regain people’s confidence. “If those who lost faith in the voting system over the past 16 years see that the government is acting properly, they will begin to trust again.” He also said a free and fair election will not be possible if officials involved in the “wrongdoings and unlawful acts” of the past 15–16 years of autocratic rule remain in the administration. “Those who worked to protect the fascists and committed illegal acts must be identified and brought under the law. Many of them acted openly. Unless they are removed, a fair election cannot be held,” Rizvi said. Asked about the sending of 15 serving military officers to jail in connection with two enforced disappearance cases and a July uprising killing case filed under the International Crimes Tribunal, Rizvi said these matters are part of the legal process and the law will take its own course. Will do whatever necessary to hold peaceful, impartial polls: Prof Yunus tells BNP “Those who have committed crimes will be tried, and of course this must happen through the legal process. There will be no interference,” he said. The BNP leader said those accused will have the opportunity to prove their innocence in court. “If the court finds them guilty, they must face punishment accordingly. Everyone is equal before the law. People will accept whatever the law decides; that is only natural,” he added. Referring to the July Charter, Rizvi said almost all parties have accepted it and called for the implementation of its pledges. After August 5, he said, many people’s attitudes have changed, although the law and order situation has yet to show much improvement. Fakhrul urges interim govt to act like caretaker for fair polls in Feb Rizvi also mentioned that BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman has announced a plan to plant 25 crore trees if the party returns to power, as part of efforts to protect the environment and restore ecological balance.

Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader said no country in the world has a caretaker government except Pakistan. No country in the world talks about caretaker government, it is BNP which talks about it shamelessly, he said. He said these at a food distribution and discussion programme on the occasion of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's birthday at Gendaria in the capital. "BNP is talking about caretaker government. They should be ashamed of it," he added. Quader said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is taking the country forward and making it a role model for the world by nurturing Bangabandhu’s ideals. Regarding the letter of 40 world leaders about Yunus, Quader said, "We don't need to think about people who don't think about Bangladesh. He breaks the law himself."

A 55-year-old caretaker of a water pump was stabbed dead allegedly by miscreants in Lakhai upazila of the district early Friday. Lal Miah was a resident of Jhirunda village under the upazila. Locals and police said the victim used to work as a guard of a water pump operated to water cropland in Bawa Haor. Like other days, Lal Miah along with his eight-year-old grandson Tofazzel went to the pump on Thursday night to guard it and later fell asleep at a makeshift house. A group of masked miscreants numbering five to six entered the house at the dead of night and stabbed him with sharp weapons keeping the grandson hostage, Lakhai Police Station Inspector (investigation) Chamapak Dam said quoting Tofazzel. The grandson informed his relatives coming to the house, one kilometer off the pump, when the criminals left the spot, he said. Read more: Man stabbed dead in Chattagram The family members rushed to the spot and took him to Habiganj Sadar Hospital where physicians declared him dead, the inspector said. Md Khalilur Rahman, additional superintendent of police in the district, said he has already visited the spot while drives are on to nab the criminals. He expressed reluctance to disclose anything for the sake of investigation.

Law Minister Anisul Huq on Saturday said that as the highest court of the country has declared caretaker government system illegal, there won’t be any such government in the country before the next general elections. The minister added that the government will abide by this decision because it believes in the rule of law. The minister was speaking to journalists after attending an event titled ‘National Stakeholder Consultation on Institutional of Paralegal Approach’ at a city hotel. “The Election Commission has been established following laws of the land to conduct elections. The current commission is capable of holding a free and fair election. So there won’t be any need of anything else,” said Anisul. Read: Law Minister contracts Covid-19 Anisul reiterated that elections are held under partisan governments all over the world. Same will happen in Bangladesh too. The minister hoped that all the political parties will join the elections that will be held under the current government. Replying to a question, Anisul said that if any leader or activist from the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is in jail for political reasons, he/she will be freed. But this won’t be the case for those who are convicted in cases. “In the second scenario, the detainees will need the court’s help to come out of jail,” Anisul said. Also read: Cases under DSA decline: Law Minister  The event was presided over by Md Golam Sarwar, Secretary of Law and Justice Division. Ambassador of European Union to Bangladesh Charles Whiteley, High Commissioner of the UK to Bangladesh Robert Chatterton Dickson and Ambassador of Germany to Bangladesh Achim Troster, among others, spoke in the event.

Renewing the demand for holding the next national election under a non-party government, Gonoforum President Dr Kamal Hossain said there is a possibility to revive Jatiya Oikyafront, an electoral alliance with BNP, to force the government to meet their demand. “We strongly demand that the next parliamentary election be held under a non-party government as we saw in the past it couldn’t be held in a fair and credible manner under a partisan government,” he said. Speaking at a press conference at a city hotel, Dr Kamal said they have a bitter experience of general elections under a partisan government. “We can expect to get a free and fair election if it’s held under a non-partisan government.” The Gonoforum chief said they are placing the demand for a polls-time impartial government to bring the issue to the limelight afresh. “We’ll work out our action programmes to realise it in the days to come.” As his attention was drawn to the constitution that has no provision for impartial government, he said it can be included in the constitution in the face of people’s demand. Replying to a question, Dr Kamal said a crisis will be created and a strong movement will be waged if the government does not accept their demand. Reviving Oikyafront Dr Kamal said though Jatiya Oikyafront -- formed before the 2018 national election -- has become an inactive platform, it still has the potential to rejuvenate. “In that sense, now Oikyafront doesn't have any existence, but there’s a scope to revive it, extend it, or to get united afresh,” he said. The Gonoforum President said they will sit for discussions on reviving the Oikyafront and take a decision on it later. READ: Dr Kamal for united movement to ‘oust govt’    On October 13, BNP, Gonoforum, Nagorik Oikya, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal and Jatiya Oikya Prokriya floated the alliance, Jatiya Oikyafront, led by Kamal Hossain ahead of the 11th parliamentary election. Kader Siddiqui’s Krishak Shramik Janata League formally joined it on November 5, 2018. The alliance took part in the December-30 national election using BNP’s election symbol, the Sheaf of Paddy, but got only eight seats -- BNP six and Gonoforum two. On July 18, 2019, Kader Siddiqui’s party left the alliance as it became inactive after the 11th parliamentary election. Enacting law for EC formation Dr Kamal said it is better to constitute the new Election Commission by enacting a law instead of forming it through a search committee. “The search committee can’t be neutral if it’s not constituted with impartial persons.” “We’re in favour of forming the next Election Commission under a law. We think there’s a chance to form a somewhat neutral Election Commission by enacting a law.” He also said enacting any law will be meaningless if it is breached. “Overall, I think a good and honest intention is necessary to form a neutral election commission.” READ: Dr Kamal’s Gonoforum to hold special council on Dec 4 Dr Kamal voiced concern as the prices of all essentials have increased following the hike in diesel price and transport costs. “The price of every item shouldn’t be so high due to the increase in the diesel price. The prices of daily essentials are going beyond the buying capacity of common people. We think it’s unjustified.” He urged the government to take steps for lowering the prices of essential items. The Gonoforum chief also said they had a plan to hold their party’s council on December 4, but they may arrange it at the end of January.