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Caretaker govt system has to go: PM

BanglaBhoot

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Dhaka, May 31 (bdnews24.com) — The prime minister has said there is no scope to retain the caretaker government provision since the top court abolished it.

When asked at a press conference at her official residence on Tuesday what would be there, Sheikh Hasina said: "The state will be run in line with the Westminster system, when polls will be held under the Election Commission, not the government."

Hasina's remarks came a day after the constitution review committee took her opinion on the issue.

The briefing began at 4:15pm and continued for one and a half hours.

Several committee members on Monday said they would not suggest retaining the system, while opposition BNP says they would not join the next general election without a caretaker government overseeing it.

Hasina said: "We're not doing this, but following the court order."

The Supreme Court on May 10 repealed the 13th Amendment to the constitution that introduced the caretaker government. But the court said the next two general elections could be held under unelected rulers.

The apex court gave parliament the liberty to decide on the issue.

Earlier in the day, co-chair of the constitution review panel Suranjit Sengupta said the matter would be finalised in parliament and urged the opposition to give its opinion "in a hurry".

BNP did not respond to the committee's formal invitation to sit with it for talks on the 15th amendment to the constitution.

Although the committee is supposed to present its report in the current session, the opposition party has been boycotting the assembly.

Hasina said she was preparing for the review of the system "to fix the loopholes". "I didn't say no to caretaker government. It was the court."

The prime minister said she had given her opinion on the system before the Supreme Court gave its order.

In reply to queries over the court's observation to hold the next two national elections under the system, the prime minster said: "The court ordered the 13th amendment illegal and gave an observation, where one is mandatory and another is not. It also asked not to involve judiciary in it."

About feared violence in case of elections without a caretaker government, Hasina questioned in reply, "Weren't there violence during a caretaker government?"

Echoing Suranjit, she said BNP could still give their opinion over the system in parliament.

After the formation of the 15-strong parliamentary special committee to review the charter on July 21 last year, it sat with Supreme Court judges, constitution experts, lawyers and newspaper editors.

It also took opinion from Hasina on Apr 27, when she suggested "fixed term" for caretaker governments and "in case of failing to ensure elections in three months, the previous elected government will do the job".

Hasina at the press conference said it was for the first time a committee was formed and it held discussions with people from all quarters. "It was done as we want to strengthen democracy. But, by this time, the Supreme Court verdict came, which can't be ignored."

Caretaker govt system has to go: PM | Bangladesh | bdnews24.com
 
Several committee members on Monday said they would not suggest retaining the system, while opposition BNP says they would not join the next general election without a caretaker government overseeing it.

Just talk ain't going to change the ways of Awami league. It will take mighty commitment to shake the foundation of Hasina. I do not think BNP got any strength left to change Awamis mind. At least I have not seen it yet. Let's see what will take place in future.
 
Just talk ain't going to change the ways of Awami league. It will take mighty commitment to shake the foundation of Hasina. I do not think BNP got any strength left to change Awamis mind. At least I have not seen it yet. Let's see what will take place in future.


I agree. It will take something extraordinary to dislodge Sk. Hasina.
 
there are no visible situation that al will go before finishing there term . so bnp has to focus how to win in next election and solve the internal problem of party . and now the country is going to fall into the abyss of anarchy by abolishing caretaker system by this AL govt .
 
In 1996 demand of election via a caretaker system was the darling of SH. Initially, it was a demand raised by Jamaat, but was then hijacked by AL. AL did not even participate in the 1st round of general election held in January (?), 1996. But, this of a woman did not join the Parliament when BNP govt said the ruling party accepts the demand, and requested AL to join the Parliament so that CTG can be incorporated in the Const. A change in Constitution requires 2/3rd majority, which BNP did not have in the 1991-96 Parliament. It could only be possible if AL joined the Parliament sessions.

So, BNP had to arrange a 1st round of election without a CTG and without participation from AL or Jatiyo Party. BNP won all the seats. They changed the Constitution to accomodate Jamaat/AL demand to introduce a CTG system. A new election was then held under CTG and AL won a simple majoority in that election. It is very starage that the same AL is again demanding to undo the CTG provision. But, it will not be that easy. BNP will stage demonstrations, and the country's economy will go down.
 
It is very starage that the same AL is again demanding to undo the CTG provision. But, it will not be that easy. BNP will stage demonstrations, and the country's economy will go down.

So there you have it.

BNP calls daylong hartal for Sunday
Wed, Jun 1st, 2011 3:40 pm


Dhaka, June 1 (bdnews24.com)—BNP will enforce a daylong countrywide general strike on Sunday to protest against the government move to not retain the caretaker government provision for the next general elections in line with a court order.

Its ally Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has also called a lockdown for the same day against the government move. It said the interim arrangement was introduced upon their proposal in the 1990s.

The main opposition party's acting secretary-general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir announced the dawn-to-dusk shutdown from a press conference at the Naya Paltan headquarters on Wednesday.

"We're rejecting the government decision and declaring the hartal programme."

Fakhrul claimed that the ruling Awami League-led coalition government made the decision since they were "certain about their defeat in the next elections".

The programme comes a day after prime minister Sheikh Hasina said there was no way to hang on to the provision after the Supreme Court order.

BNP has threatened not to go to general elections if the caretaker system is scrapped.

The party's policymaking standing committee at a meeting on Tuesday protested against the government move and threatened to wage a tough street movement to press home its demand.

Later, party chief Khaleda Zia also met with BNP's allies.

Standing committee member Nazrul Islam Khan after Tuesday's meeting told reporters that the government decision would prompt political unrest and lead the country towards confrontation.

The Supreme Court on May 10 repealed the 13th Amendment to the constitution that introduced the caretaker government. But the court said the next two general elections could be held under unelected rulers.

The apex court gave parliament the liberty to decide on the issue.

Hasina at a press conference said: "The state will be run in line with the Westminster system, when polls will be held under the Election Commission, not the government."

The day before that, she sat with the special parliamentary committee on constitution review to give her opinion on the issue.

Fakhrul at the press briefing urged the people to keep government and private offices, and educational institutions shut and stop running vehicles.

He, however, said ambulances, fire-fighting vehicles, food shops, pharmacies and hospitals would be remain open.

Also, the areas going to Union Parishad polls on Sunday will be out of lockdown programme.

The senior BNP leader claimed not a single election was fair under the Awami League and there was no reason to believe there will be exceptions to that in future.

"The caretaker government is a resolved issue, it was never disputed."

He questioned the Supreme Court's jurisdiction to give verdict on a settled political issue. "The people and parliament are not bound to follow the order," he maintained.

Fakhrul said the prime minister made a U-turn on her earlier stance when she had told the constitution review committee on Apr 27 that the interim administration can remain with a mandate to oversee elections in three months.

"Sheikh Hasina first favoured the caretaker government system, but after four weeks, in tune with the former chief justice, she termed the system illegal and unconstitutional and said there is no chance to retain it."

Fakhrul said the repeal verdict was a 'split decision'.

Senior BNP leaders including standing committee members Nazrul Islam Khan, vice-president Abdullah Al Noman, joint secretary-general Aman Ullah Aman and opposition chief whip Zainul Abdin Farroque were also present at the press meet.

bdnews24.com/sm/pks/bd/1537h
 

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