Former communications minister Nazmul Huda on Tuesday said BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia should be repentant for punishing him as he advised her to engage in dialogue with the Prime Minister.
“The BNP chairperson shouldn’t have any anger against me; rather she should be regretful as I was punished for calling the two leaders (Hasina-Khaleda) to sit for talks. Now everybody is talking about dialogue,” he said. Huda, also a former vice chairman of BNP, came up with the remarks at a press conference at Dhaka Reporters’ Unity.
On June, 6, 2012, he resigned from BNP in protest against party chief Khaleda Zia’s failure to engage in talks with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina as per his proposal. Later, Huda floated Bangladesh Nationalist Front (BNF) with some mid-ranking BNP leaders. But on March 10 this year the BNF relieved Huda of the party’s convener post for his ‘anti-party’ activities. Addressing the press briefing, Huda claimed that he is still a primary member of BNP as its chairperson did not accept his resignation letter.
He also said he wants to contest the next election with BNP’s election symbol, the sheaf of paddy. About his removal from BNF, Huda said, “I’m not with BNF. It also expelled me. I was with BNP and still with it.”
About the next election, the former minister said it is possible to hold the national election under a non-party administration under the current constitution. As per his formula, the Prime Minister will hand over her executive power to the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) following the 55 (2) article of the constitution.
The President as per the article 72(1) of the constitution will suggest the Prime Minister to dissolve the parliament. “In this way, the election will be held under a non-party government. Only the Prime Minister’s good will is needed in this regard.”
According to Huda’s formula, the CEC will act as the Prime Minister as his/ her additional duty. The commission will also oversee the routine work of the government apart from arranging the election. He also recommended reconstitution of the current EC. -UNB
