Caretaker must for two polls

[Tiki Tam Tam]

Caretaker must for two polls

BNP asks govt to take steps
Staff Correspondent

Leaders of the main opposition BNP said yesterday the prime minister and the ruling Awami League must take necessary steps to hold the next two parliamentary elections under non-party caretaker government.

“The court (Supreme Court) suggested holding two more elections under non-party caretaker government. But the ruling party leaders distorted the verdict to hold elections under the present government which will not be acceptable to people,” said Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, BNP standing committee member.

The SC on May 10 declared caretaker government illegal but kept the option open for two more parliamentary polls under the system if the Sangsad endorses it. Even if parliament goes for caretaker system, it has to be remodelled as the SC wanted none from the judiciary to head an interim government.

Skipping the aspect of remodelling the system, Acting Secretary General of the party Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir flatly said the SC wanted holding the next two parliamentary polls under caretaker government.

“Now it is the responsibility of the prime minister and the ruling party to implement the court verdict, and they must do this.”

Both the leaders were addressing participants in a demonstration, organised by Dhaka city unit of BNP in front of the party central office at Nayapaltan, protesting arrest and torture of opposition leaders during the 36-hour hartal on June 12 and 13, and demanding release of the arrested leaders.

Mosharraf said they [opposition] will not allow holding any elections in the country under the political government, and it (government) will be forced to meet BNP's demand for a midterm election under a caretaker administration.

Following the SC verdict on 13th amendment to the constitution (concerning caretaker government), Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said there is no scope for continuing the caretaker system as the apex court declared it illegal.

But BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia said parliamentary elections must be held under a caretaker government, and her party will not participate in any elections under a political government.

The SC verdict said, “The Constitution (thirteenth amendment) Act 1996 (Act 1 of 1996) is retrospectively declared void and ultra vires the Constitution.”

More at
Caretaker must for two polls

Could some explain the political and judicial ramifications?

 

[Tiki Tam Tam]

JSD for elections under CG

Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) on Thursday suggested holding two more parliamentary elections under a non-partisan caretaker government to overcome the present political crisis.

An eight-member delegation led by the party Hasanul Haq Inu made the recommendation when it sat with Election Commission (EC) officials at the commission’s secretariat at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar.

The party also proposed for raising the number of election commissioner from two to four during the two-hour dialogue that began at about 10:30am.

The EC is scheduled to sit for its ongoing dialogue with Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami at about 3:00pm.

The EC on June 7 launched dialogues with the political parties for their opinion on some key issues like Representation of the People Order; laws on demarcation of constituencies and appointment of election commissioners; and use of electronic voting machine.

The EC has decided to hold dialogue with the 38 registered political parties.

JSD for elections under CG

 

[Tiki Tam Tam]

Since there is no replies, there obviously no judicial or political ramifications and so the brouhaha is misplaced?

 

[TopCat]

Since there is no replies, there obviously no judicial or political ramifications and so the brouhaha is misplaced?

What ramification you talking about? Supreme court verdict already gave a blank check to hold next two election under CG system. There is no legal bar after that but idiot Hasina is just mudding the water.

 

[Tiki Tam Tam]

What ramification you talking about? Supreme court verdict already gave a blank check to hold next two election under CG system. There is no legal bar after that but idiot Hasina is just mudding the water.

If I am not mistaken, AL is opposing the same and has asked for a debate in the Parliament.

BNP has stated they will think over.

Therefore, there is no consensus as yet, or has it been resolved?

 

[saleen_s7]

If I am not mistaken, AL is opposing the same and has asked for a debate in the Parliament.

BNP has stated they will think over.

Therefore, there is no consensus as yet, or has it been resolved?

Debate in the parliament? do you even know how the debates normally work out? BNP would be slandered and accused of this and that. Not to mention, the founder of BNP, Ziaur Rahman would be demonised and BNP would be forced to walk out. We have all seen it before.

 

[InFn-0]

Basically the supreme court verdict said that the caretaker government system is unconstitutional but if parliament wants it can retain the system for another 2 elections. This basically means AL can do whatever it wants, if it sees that BNP is in a bad position, they will just use the first part, which says caretaker system is unconstitutional, and if it BNP is strong enough, they ll use the second part, which is holding two elections under CG.

 

[Tiki Tam Tam]

Here is what Khaleda has to say.

Caretaker system still legal: Khaleda

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia on Thursday said the constitutional provision of installing an unelected non-partisan caretaker government to oversee general elections remains legal in spite of the recent Supreme Court verdict.

She, however, accused Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of making “wrong and confusing interpretations of the verdict” that declared illegal the 13th amendment to the constitution that contains the caretaker government system.

The opposition leader said they will sit in discussions with the government if it declares clearly that the non-party caretaker government system will continue and the provision must be kept in the constitution as it is.


While addressing a crowded press conference at her Gulshan office, she however said, “We must sit with the government on who will be the head of the non-party caretaker government, if necessary. The existing provision of the caretaker government must continue as it is.”

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina several times said as the SC declared the caretaker government system illegal so it cannot continue in the constitution. She, however, urged the opposition to return to the parliament with a new formula of caretaker system for discussion.

Saying according to the current provision former chief justice ABM Khairul Haque will head the next caretaker government, when journalists sought to know her stance, Khaleda termed Haque ‘controversial’ and said he is not a neutral person at all.

“There are a lot of options [regarding the head of caretaker government] in existing provision and we will be able to settle it through discussion if government withdraws its decision to scrap caretaker system,” she added.

She also said, “No new formula is necessary. We gave our opinion clearly and now the government has to take their decision. We also want to discuss about strengthening the Election Commission comprising neutral and competent persons.”

Rejecting to the repeated call to sit in dialogue made by ruling party leaders including the prime minister, Khaleda said, “We are not against discussions. We can sit anywhere to discuss about important issues with anyone for the sake of national interest. But, it won’t be anything except wasting time to discuss on that issue which has no need to discuss.”

Caretaker system still legal: Khaleda

So, it is illegal.

and yet legal.

There are many options.

Yet no formula required.

How will this imbroglio be solved?

 

[TopCat]

Here is what Khaleda has to say.



So, it is illegal.

and yet legal.

There are many options.

Yet no formula required.

How will this imbroglio be solved?

Very simple. The CG system can not be a part of constitution anymore for sure and there is no doubt about it. But government can still pass a law in the parliament and will not be declared extra constitutional by the supreme court as long as it conform with the supreme court verdict.

 

[Tiki Tam Tam]

Very simple. The CG system can not be a part of constitution anymore for sure and there is no doubt about it. But government can still pass a law in the parliament and will not be declared extra constitutional by the supreme court as long as it conform with the supreme court verdict.

That I understood.

But Khaleda has said no new formula required.

If no formula is required, would the new Act not be a 'new formula'?

She has also said - “We are not against discussions. We can sit anywhere to discuss about important issues with anyone for the sake of national interest. But, it won’t be anything except wasting time to discuss on that issue which has no need to discuss.”

Therefore, basically it is a gridlock!

 

[TopCat]

That I understood.

But Khaleda has said no new formula required.

If no formula is required, would the new Act not be a 'new formula'?

She has also said - “We are not against discussions. We can sit anywhere to discuss about important issues with anyone for the sake of national interest. But, it won’t be anything except wasting time to discuss on that issue which has no need to discuss.”

Therefore, basically it is a gridlock!

I read her speech today and it seems like she does not want negotiate regarding the existence of caretaker system. She will negotiate the system, like number of advisors, the tenure etc.

 

[Tiki Tam Tam]

Talks only option for BNP on CG issue: Ashraf

Awami League General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam on Friday said the constitution would be amended in line with the Supreme Court verdict regarding the caretaker government system if BNP does not come to dialogues to settle the issue.

Inviting BNP once again to the parliament to discuss the caretaker system, the AL leader said there is no alternative to the dialogue for the opposition leader in the issue.

“Awami League will not take any unilateral decision on the issue but if BNP does not come to discussions, then the constitution will be amended according to the Supreme Court verdict,” said Ashraf.

“The next [general election] will be held under that constitution and BNP and its allies will not be able to stop that election,” Ashraf said at a press conference at the AL president’s office in Dhanmondi.

He said Opposition Leader Khaleda Zia always says ‘no’ to different matters but at the end she agrees to those.........

Talks only option for BNP on CG issue: Ashraf

BNP to declare agitation programmes Saturday

The main opposition BNP has decided to delay its road march towards country’s northern part for inclement weather, say party high-ups.

However, acting BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir will announce fresh agitation programmes on Saturday.

The party earlier decided to organise a two-day road march to be led by its Chairperson Khaleda Zia from June 26 to drum up support for retaining the caretaker system in the constitution.

It also postponed Friday’s preparatory meeting between Alamgir and Rajshahi leaders to finalise the road march route.

Central BNP leader Ruhul Kuddus Talukder Dulu told The Daily Star on Friday that they were ready to hold the meeting but it was cancelled according to a party decision.

Alamgir said the party will announce its next agitation programmes on Saturday to protest “the government move to abolish the caretaker government system.”

The party may go for a series of countrywide demonstrations including protest rallies and processions, say party insiders.

Khaleda on Thursday reiterated her stance on the issue, and said the caretaker system must remain unchanged in the constitution. She also turned down the ruling party’s suggestion to return to parliament with a new formula for the caretaker system.

BNP to declare agitation programmes Saturday

The imbroglio continues?

Hotting up?