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| Khaleda Zia |
BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia on Saturday threatened of a tougher movement if the government does not step down immediately and backtracks from its stance on caretaker government (CG).
“We will wage tougher movements if the government does not step down right now and gives up conspiracy to hold general polls itself,” the opposition leader said at a press briefing at her Gulshan office in the evening.
The briefing was convened to announce her party's stance regarding the constitutional amendment and cancellation of the caretaker government system.
The former prime minister said her party would boycott the next parliamentary election if it does not take place under a caretaker government.
“Neither the countrymen nor our party will allow any election held under Awami League government,” she said.
Khaleda reiterated her party’s call that the government should cease to continue and hold a mid-term parliamentary election.
Replying to the prime minister’s call for placing an alternative instead of the CG system, leader of the four-party alliance said an interim government could be installed after consulting with every quarters of the society for holding the polls.
She also demanded forming an “independent” and “stronger” Election Commission to hold the election.
“Only an interim, non-partisan government and an independent election commission could be able to create environment to hold a free and fair mid-term poll,” the BNP chief said.
On whether the main opposition party would consider retired chief justice ABM Khairul Haque as the head of the next CG, the BNP chief said: “We won’t accept Khairul heading the interim government as he proved that he is not neutral.”
“There are other options documented in the constitutional provision on who can be the chief of the caretaker government if the top contender falls out,” she said.
“We will wage tougher movements if the government does not step down right now and gives up conspiracy to hold general polls itself,” the opposition leader said at a press briefing at her Gulshan office in the evening.
The briefing was convened to announce her party's stance regarding the constitutional amendment and cancellation of the caretaker government system.
The former prime minister said her party would boycott the next parliamentary election if it does not take place under a caretaker government.
“Neither the countrymen nor our party will allow any election held under Awami League government,” she said.
Khaleda reiterated her party’s call that the government should cease to continue and hold a mid-term parliamentary election.
Replying to the prime minister’s call for placing an alternative instead of the CG system, leader of the four-party alliance said an interim government could be installed after consulting with every quarters of the society for holding the polls.
She also demanded forming an “independent” and “stronger” Election Commission to hold the election.
“Only an interim, non-partisan government and an independent election commission could be able to create environment to hold a free and fair mid-term poll,” the BNP chief said.
On whether the main opposition party would consider retired chief justice ABM Khairul Haque as the head of the next CG, the BNP chief said: “We won’t accept Khairul heading the interim government as he proved that he is not neutral.”
“There are other options documented in the constitutional provision on who can be the chief of the caretaker government if the top contender falls out,” she said.
Source : The Daily Star, June 04, 2011, Saturday
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