From right, Dr Jamilur Reza Choudhury, Badiul Alam Majumder, Dr Shahdeen Malik, Sultana Kamal, Dr Akbar Ali Khan, and Dr Kamal Hossain meet President Abdul Hamid, far left, at the Bangabhaban yesterday to convey their concern over the current political impasse and urge his initiatives to resolve the crisis. Photo: PID

A delegation of eminent citizens yesterday met President Abdul Hamid, and proposed limiting the prime minister's powers to overrule ministers' decisions in order to have the BNP join the polls-time government and contest the next general election.
This could be done by amending the government's rules of business, which would be effective only for the interim cabinet. And it would still be in conformity with the constitution, said meeting sources citing the proposal.
The rules of business now give the PM unlimited powers to override any decisions of the cabinet members.
The eminent citizens observed that the provision might prevent the BNP from joining the polls-time government led by Sheikh Hasina.
The BNP might think even if it gets the desired ministries in the interim government, this provision would allow the PM to overrule any decisions of BNP ministers, said a delegation member, asking not to be named.
On behalf of the delegation, Dr Akbar Ali Khan, a former adviser to a caretaker government, placed the proposal before the president at the Bangabhaban.
If needed, a new provision could be included in the rules of business that the interim cabinet would make decisions on the basis of consensus, not majority, according to the proposal.
"The president told us that he would consider this proposal," a delegation member told The Daily Star on condition of anonymity.
The six-member team led by noted jurist Dr Kamal Hossain urged the president to take steps to resolve the crisis.
When the president pointed out his constitutional limitations in playing an active role in resolving the crisis, Dr Kamal told Hamid that with his “moral authority”, the president could play an important part in this matter.
The six dignitaries had earlier consulted among themselves at Dr Kamal's Bailey Road house.
Speaking at a press briefing after the meeting, Akbar, also former cabinet secretary, said the president told them that he was trying to resolve the political standoff between the Awami League and the BNP over polls-time government.
Briefing reporters, President's Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim said the president told the delegation that he would convey their concern and message to the government.
Contacted over the phone, Osman Faruk, adviser to BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, said they would welcome any move to resolve the ongoing political crisis.
On the delegation's proposal, he said his party could speak about the proposal once it got a formal shape.
The eminent citizens told the president that any election without the main opposition would spell disaster for the country, said Akbar after coming out of the Bangabhaban.
It appeared that the country was heading towards a path of conflict over the polls-time government. “We are concerned about the future of democracy in the country,” he told reporters.
Asked why they met the president knowing his constitutional limitations, Akbar said they had none to turn to, and “the president is the only person whom we can approach to express our anxiety."
The other delegation members are former caretaker advisers Prof Jamilur Reza Choudhury and Sultana Kamal, jurist Dr Shahdeen Malik and Secretary of Sushashoner Jonno Nagorik Badiul Alam Majumder.
On November 19, the chief election commissioner met the president and urged him to take initiatives to ensure participation of all political parties in the next election.
Hours after the meeting, opposition leader Khaleda Zia called on the president and requested him to take steps to reach a consensus between the ruling and the opposition parties for holding a free, fair and participatory election under a non-party government.
In his address to the nation on Monday, the CEC again called for a consensus between the two rivals camps for the sake of democracy, peace and progress of the country.