BANGLADESH NEWS
Awami League leader Mahbub-ul-Alam Hanif on Saturday said the government will take an initiative for talks to settle the framework of the polls-time interim cabinet if the opposition responds positively to the prime minister’s proposal.
“The door is open for discussions. You’ll see development in this regard soon,” Hanif, acting general secretary of AL, told a meet-the-press organised by Dhaka Reporters' Unity (DRU) at its office.
Hanif urged the main opposition party to place its proposal on the formation of an interim government and said the government would accept any logical suggestion for the sake of the country and its democracy.
“We don’t want to decide the framework of the government alone. I hope the main opposition would place its proposal and the final decision will be taken after discussions on it,” said Hanif, also a special assistant to the prime minister.
The AL leader hoped the main opposition should backtrack from its demand for restoring the caretaker government system to oversee the next polls as people have no support for it.
About the BNP’s outright rejection of the PM’s proposal, Hanif said, “I’m not frustrated at all by the opposition’s decision as there’s no last word in politics. I hope the party would change its decision understanding the reality and will finally accept the proposal.”
In the wake of the BNP’s longstanding demand for restoration of the caretaker government system, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in a recent interview with BBC, suggested formation of a small cabinet with representation from the BNP before the next general election. She also asked BNP to come up with its proposal in parliament in this regard.
But opposition leader Khaleda Zia and her party’s senior leaders right way rejected the proposal saying that the next polls must be held under a non-party caretaker government.
“The opposition always opposes government decisions only for the sake of opposing. The opposition wants to push the government into a chaotic situation without any issue. If it continues, it won’t be possible to achieve desired development,” Hanif said.
About Dr Muhammad Yunus’ reaction to the cabinet decision on Grameen Bank, Hanif said the government has taken the decision to inform people of the facts about Grameen Bank, not to destroy it. “Dr Yunus is not above the law of the country.”
The ruling party leader also criticised BNP senior vice-chairman Tarique Rahman for living a lavish life in London. “Even he has no TIN (tax identification number). Then what’s the source of the money he spends there. Even his father did not leave behind anything for them.”
Hanif also alleged that Tarique is spending money from London to destabilise Bangladesh.
About price hike, Hanif said the prices of essentials in Bangladesh are less than that of the neighbouring countries.
Turning to war crimes trial, Hanif said the government is determined to try the war criminals as Awami League does not believe in compromise with the war criminals.
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