PM slams Akbar Ali for his formula on interim govt

 

L-R: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Dr Akbar Ali Khan

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday came down heavily on former adviser to a caretaker government Dr Akbar Ali Khan saying that a person who failed to hold a simple election has no right to talk on the formula of interim government.
“These days many persons came up with the formula of interim government. A former adviser also came up with a formula. This person while he was an adviser under President Iajuddin Ahmed failed to hold an election,” she said.
The prime minister made the remarks while addressing the councilors and delegates of the party of different districts who went to Gono Bhaban today to greet Hasina on her reelection.
She said: “There is no effectiveness of the formula given by a failed person. It will also fail.”
Akbar Ali on Saturday suggested four proposals, including formation of an interim government comprising Awami League and BNP lawmakers, to end the political deadlock over holding free and fair general election.
In his proposal, he said that the AL will select five from BNP's existing 36 lawmakers while BNP will select five, including the prime minister, from AL's 274 MPs. The new cabinet will conduct the next parliamentary polls.
Akbar's proposals had come against the backdrop of concerns raised by different quarters that a chaotic situation may arise in the country if the two arch political parties fail to reach consensus over the burning issue.
The AL-led ruling alliance abolished the caretaker government system on June 30, allowing general elections under elected partisan government.
Akbar, in another proposal, said the President could seek advice from the Supreme Court in line with the constitution on holding the next parliamentary polls under a caretaker government, like the one in 1996.
His third proposal states that the BNP and AL will each name 10 neutral persons and the parliament will elect five each from the two panels. These 10 persons will elect the chief adviser. If they fail, the chief adviser will be selected through lottery.
Dr Akbar Ali’s fourth proposal suggested that the BNP will place its plan on holding the next national election and then a referendum will be held on this proposal.
Hasina has directed the leaders and workers of the party to concentrate on the voters of their respective areas and project the development activities of the government.
She asked them to conduct campaign by themselves as the party has no newspaper and television channel of its own.
The Awami League chief also urged them to strengthen the party at grassroots level through completing the council of the party at all tiers within next two months.
She put emphasis on establishing permanent party offices at all districts and assured necessary cooperation from the central committee in this regard.
She mentioned that the Awami League as a political institution has its own dynamics and it will continue to follow the same.
Referring to the move made by Ayub, Yahia and Monayem as well as the successive post-75 governments to destroy Awami League, Hasina said none could destroy the party as it is an old political institution of the subcontinent rooted among the people.
With Awami League in power, people are relaxed this time as the government ensured almost all their basic rights, she said.
Moreover, she said, the spirit of Liberation War has been restored from where the new generation can learn the real history.
Laying emphasis on setting up party’s own archive to preserve the rich history and mementos of the Awami League, the prime minister sought cooperation of all in this regard.
She requested the party leaders and workers to collect documents and mementos from the elderly leaders of their respective areas.
Later, the delegates and councilors of each district greeted the prime minister with bouquets. She also greeted them with sweets and snacks.