Framework on polls-time govt soon: Fakhrul

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir today said that his party will soon come up with a clear framework on the type of the government under which the next general election will be held in a free, fair and inclusive manner.

"We must reveal the framework at an appropriate time so that the next general election is held in a free, fair and inclusive manner," Fakhrul said while talking to reporters at a function at the party's Nayapaltan central office in Dhaka this noon.

About the government's denial of holding talks to reach a mutual compromise over the impasse of the polls-time management, Fakhrul said Awami League is scraping the issue sensing its absolute failure in the upcoming national polls.

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Polls-time govt as per constitution

Rejecting BNP's plea of holding the talks, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on January 12, in her speech to the nation, said the 11th parliamentary next general election would be held in line with constitutional provisions, meaning she would be holding office as the head of the government during the polls.

"We want a neutral polls-time government. We don't want any administration under the Sheikh Hasina-led government as we know no fair and credible election can be held under them (AL)," he said.

"The government is neither paying heeds to our demand nor walking towards the path of talks," Fakhrul said adding that the ruling Awami League will face an absolute debacle if people can exercise their voting rights in the election in a smooth atmosphere.

The immediate past parliamentary election was held on January 5, 2014, in which many political parties including the then opposition BNP boycotted the polls after being deprived of its demand for holding the election under a nonpartisan government. As a result, 154 lawmakers were elected uncontested in the 10th parliament.

Since then, the BNP has been pressing home its demand to restore the provision of the nonpartisan polls-time government in the constitution.

Later on March 16, 2017, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia in her party's Vision 2030 underscored the need for restoration of the non-party neutral polls-time government saying that she would unveil a framework in this regard.

Citing the issue, Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader, on January 15, criticised BNP for not talking anything about the framework and said people want to know about BNP's stance in this regard. 

"We expected that BNP would at least come up with a framework about the type of the polls-time government but it did not do yet. What does BNP really want? Does it want caretaker or supportive or polls-time government? " Quader asked BNP.

In the programme, Quader had also called upon BNP not to mislead the nation without specifying its demand over the polls-time management.

Responding to the call, Fakhrul today said that every issue requires some times and BNP will unveil the framework at an appropriate time.