The treasury bench members in Parliament on Monday welcomed the
formation of a polls-time government to oversee the next general
election. Rising on a point of order, Chief Whip Abdus Sahid,
Suranjit Sengupta, Fazle Rabbi Miah and Moinuddin Khan Badal welcomed
the election-time cabinet. Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury also
congratulated the members of the government. Welcoming the new
ministers, chief whip Abdus Sahid said the next elections would be
held in line with the constitution. He alleged that the opposition
had been trying to annihilate the democratic practice in the name of
foiling the elections. “They’re anti-democracy force and they want
unconstitutional autocratic government,” he said. Moinuddin Khan
Badal of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal said leader of the House Prime
Minister Sheikh Hasina has taken a bold step towards holding the 10th
parliament election in line with the constitution. Independent MP
Fazlul Azim, however, said the reshuffled cabinet is not all-party one
saying that the presence of all political parties was not ensured
here. “The presence of all parties is not there.” He also urged
the chiefs of the two major political parties to sit for negotiations
to find out a solution so that question does not arise about the
election.
Grand alliance lawmakers called upon the opposition leader, Khaleda
Zia to join the poll-time government and take part in the forthcoming
polls by shunning the path of violence.
They made the call while speaking in Parliament on point of order as
the sitting of the current session began on Monday evening with
Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury in the chair.
The lawmakers hoped that the opposition would take a decision in
favour of taking part in the election for the sake of country and the
nation.
They also greeted the new ministers and state ministers who took oath
at Bangahaban on Monday afternoon.
“There are places reserved for you (opposition) in the government.
Please come and accept the proposal of formation of the interin
government to oversee the next poll,” said Awami League lawmaker
Advocate Fazle Rabbi Miah.
He said there is still time for the opposition to shun the path of
enforcing non-stop hartal that kills people and brings no good for
them.
The AL lawmaker reminded that there is only way to handover power
through elections.
Engr Fazlul Azim, the lone independent lawmaker, however said that the
new cabinet cannot be described as government since it does not
represent all the political parties.
“The nation wants the two leaders reach and agreement and take a
decision for holding a free and fair election which will be accepted
by the people and will be held in an atmosphere of celebration,” he
said.
AL lawmaker Suranjit Sengupta described the opposition leader’s
schedule meeting with the President as a positive step.
“Time is still there for the opposition to join the interim
government. The prime minister did not keep it limited as to how many
opposition members will be included in the new government and what
ministries they want,” he said.
The AL leader said the opposition would be isolated if they take the
path of anarchy boycotting the election.
He claimed that the next election would be different from February 15
polls held in the country in 1996.
“Everyone will enjoy equal rights during the election,” he said.
Moinuddin Khan Badal of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal called upon the
opposition leader to take part in the poll saying that she would not
survive in politics as a fish cannot survive without water.
