Shawdesh desk:

*Running talks with other oppn parties to finalise outline of simultaneous movement

*To place CG govt formula in line with 13th amendment

With little over one year to go to the next general election, both ruling Awami League and opposition BNP are rigid on their stance on the method of holding the polls.

Awami League wants the election to be held in line with the constitution while BNP wants that it should be held under a neutral administration.

BNP has also announced that they will not sit in any dialogue with the government until their demand for the caretaker government to hold the next general election is met.

At the same time, they are also going ahead with the plan to realise their demand through simultaneous movement with other opposition parties.

“There’s no scope of holding talks with Awami League. They have to quit after transferring power to a caretaker government. There’ll be no talks (with AL) before our demand is met,” BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at a press conference on Thursday hinted that no talks will be held with the political parties ahead of the next general polls. “Getting invitation or inviting others is now less frequent due to the current coronavirus-induced situation. The virus often marks a sharp rise. Even journalists are not allowed at my office. So, we have to think about it considering the coronavirus situation. Many (political parties) will also not come (for talks) while many others will not be able to join it,” she said.

Responding to the PM’s remarks, Fakhrul at a press conference on Friday said they will not sit in any dialogue with the government as they are asking the government to meet their demands first. “There’s no question of sitting in talks with them (AL). We’re now holding talks with those parties that don’t accept this government,” he added.

The BNP secretary general said the ruling party does not want the opposition parties to join the election. “They want to score goals in an empty field and get walkover. However, people will no longer accept this kind of election.”

Awami League leaders have already made it clear that there is no chance of going back to the caretaker government system and the next parliamentary elections will be held as per the constitution.

BNP sources said the party will not go back on its stance on the caretaker government system and they are firm to forge a movement to ensure that the next general election is not held under the party in power. As part of their plan, the party is now holding 2nd phase of talks with other opposition parties to finalise the outline of their anti-government movement to be forged simultaneously.

BNP has planned to go for the simultaneous movement with around 35 other political parties from the beginning of next year to realise their 13-point demand, including resignation of the incumbent government, holding election under a caretaker government and release of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia.

BNP leaders started the 2nd-phase talks with the opposition political parties on October 2 to finalise their movement outline. The party has already held discussion with five parties in the 2nd phase.

Party insiders said after the talks with the parties end, BNP may announce the movement outline at the end of October and then they may hold another phase of talks to finalise the polls-time government formula.

Fakhrul said their caretaker government formula is being prepared in accordance with article 58(B), (C), (D) of the constitution that was included in the charter through the 13th amendment, which was later scrapped.

In the formula, the opposition may propose forming the caretaker government comprising of one chief adviser and 10 advisers. The members of the caretaker government will be selected from those as proposed by different parties, opposition sources said.

“You’ll know the outline of the caretaker government in the right time. You’ll also know when we’re going to initiate a simultaneous movement,” the BNP secretary general told reporters on Friday.

The caretaker government system was abolished through the 15th amendment of the constitution in 2011 as the Supreme Court declared the 13th amendment illegal. The last two general elections were held under the Awami League government.

BNP has been on a movement for the restoration of the election-time non-party government system since the 13th amendment was scrapped.

Talking to the Daily Sun, BNP standing committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain said, “We’ve already announced that we won’t participate in any election under this government. We’ll realise our demand of caretaker government through movement.”

BNP sources said the party is now working to take their ongoing anti-government movement to a one-point one of resignation of the current Awami League government in the next year.

Before that the party will gradually intensify its movement at different points.

The party has already announced public rallies to be held in 10 organisational divisions from today. The programme will end through holding public rally in Dhaka city on December 10.

Party sources said after ending the rallies, the party is likely to go for more agitation programmes like nationwide long-march on some public and political issues.