Consensus govt needs people's consent: Delwar

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BNP secretary general Khandaker Delwar Hossain and joint-secretary general Nazrul Islam Khan stated in one voice that the proposed government of consensus for 10 years needed constitutional sanction and consent of the people, reports UNB.
Talking to journalists at Delwar's NAM apartment Wednesday, both the leaders of the immediate-past ruling party said that B Chowdhury's concept of a government of consensus was not clear as he did not speak about basic principles and programmes of such a government.
This was Nazrul Islam Khan's first public appearance through media after ex-prime minister (PM) and BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia's arrest on September 3 and the expulsion of secretary general Mannan Bhuiyan by her for campaigning reform of the party in the changed political context.
Delwar observed that the people were the makers of a government. A government can be formed with people's verdict given through free and fair elections.
"Usually, parliamentary elections are held every five years and the tenure of a government is also five years. There is no constitutional provision for a government of consensus for 10 years," he said.
In Bangladesh, he said, government was usually formed through election. Referring to the formation of their 4-party coalition government, he said they formed the alliance, contested the elections on the basis of alliance and formed the alliance government after the polls.
In 1996, he said, Awami League (AL) formed the government of consensus with Jatiya Party (JP) after winning the elections.
The newly-appointed BNP secretary general said B Chowdhury threw an idea up in the air triggering different reactions and opinions.
"As a political party we attach importance to the constitution and the people," he said, adding there was no scope for forming such a government through a different process being 'influenced by others'.
BNP spokesman and joint-secretary general Nazrul Islam Khan, sitting beside Delwar, said those who would be elected would form the government. After elections, if the winning party takes the decision, they could say that they would run the government unitedly. But such a decision must be in compliance with the Constitution.
Khan, however, said if all parties take constitutional decision that they would govern the country unitedly, then the principles and programmes of such government must be spelt out.
B Chowdhury did not say anything about it. His proposal also did not specify what would be the fundamental principles of governing the state. "Detailed discussions are needed before taking any decision about it."
In reply to a question Khan said they could not make any reaction over B Chowdhury's proposal without discussing it in the BNP forum.
He said they were continuing legal efforts to free BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia and the efforts, if necessary, would be intensified.
Khan claimed there were no divisions in BNP, which remained united. He admitted certain conflicts among some BNP leaders.