BanglaBhoot
RETIRED TTA
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The Supreme Court on May 10 repealed the 13th Amendment to the constitution that introduced the caretaker government.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
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