Khaleda Zia has again called for amending the Constitution that ruling MPs say allows the upcoming general elections without having to dissolve Parliament.“Elections to Parliament cannot take place without dissolving exiting one,” the BNP Chairperson said on Thursday night as she exchanged greetings with Hindus marking the Janmashtami, the birthday of Lord Sri Krishna.
The three-time Prime Minister also said, “The next elections will have to be held under a non-partisan government after dissolving Parliament.”
The elections, due between October and January, as per the latest amendmwn, will be held with the Parliament remaining alive. This provision has been criticised by even Awami League’s alliance partners.
The opposition has complained there would no scope for equal fight in the polls if held scrapping Parliament.
The BNP has been seeking restoration of the provision of election under non-party government the moment it was scrapped. It has been saying election under a partisan government can never be ‘free and credible.’
Regarding these two matters, Khaleda said, “The government should bring amendments in the Parliament session beginning Sep 12 to settle the anomalies in the Constitution regarding the holding of the elections.”
“An atmosphere that will allow all parties to take part in the elections should be created for the sake of peace and development,” the opposition chief added.
She alleged the election would never be fair with the current Prime Minister, the ministera and the MPs in office.
“They have politicised everything… public administration, police, judiciary,” she alleged.
“The DCs and SPs will follow her orders if she (Sheikh Hasina) remains the Prime Minister during the time of elections.”
“They will never pay heed to any of our complaints. How will the elections be fair then?”
Khaleda ytermed the Election Commission a ‘puppet’ of the government and ‘worthless.’
Without naming the Chief Election Commissioner, she said, “he was an obedient government official. He worked as a Secretary at the primary education ministry when I was in power.”
“A weak and worthless man has been made the CEC. He will definitely listen to the government.”
The BNP chief alleged the Hasina-led government used terror and torture on minorities as a “weapon against BNP.”
“The terrorism raised its head during their (Awami League) tenure. They did not take any action then.”
“I will not deny that there was terrorism during our tenure. But we ensured justice by arresting the Bangla Bhai, Shaikh Abdur Rahman alive.”
“We don’t believe in the term ‘minority’. We all are Bangladeshis,” she said at her Gulshan office.
She blamed the recent attacks on Hindu temples, Buddha Viharas on the government and alleged that the vested properties were being illegally occupied by the ruling party’s leaders.
The former Prime Minister criticised the government for its role in handling the murder of old Dhaka’s tailor Biswajit Das.
“All of those accused of the murder are Chhatra League activists,” she said. Khaleda invited all Hindus to join BNP.
