Bring caretakers back: Dr Kamal
Monday, 2 January 2012
Ganaforum president Dr Kamal Hossain Sunday doubted elections overseen by a partisan government will be acceptable and suggested that the government put the caretaker government provision back in play, reports bdnews24.com.
President M Zillur Rahman sat with the Ganaforum leaders at Bangabhaban as part of a series of talks he is having on forming new Election Commission (EC) with political parties represented in parliament and other significant parties.
Dr Kamal Hossain, one of the authors of the 1972 charter, further proposed that a new law be made in line with the constitution to appoint chief election commissioner and other election commissioners.
After the dialogue, he said his party proposed return of the caretaker government system which the incumbent Awami League-led government repealed through the 15th amendment to the constitution going partly by a Supreme Court order.
Main opposition BNP has been demonstrating demanding revival of the provision.
"The demand of caretaker government is not only BNP's demand…the entire nation's demand is to hold a free, fair and impartial election," Dr Kamal Hossain said.
"We saw in the past that a partisan government cannot ensure this alone. It requires EC."
"But," he added, "The EC alone cannot do this if a caretaker government is not there."
Dr Hossain, a former president of the Supreme Court Bar Association, said, "The full court verdict is yet to be published. But the verdict opined in favour of keeping the caretaker government system for next two terms."
About the appointment of election commissioners, he said the new commission can be formed in three ways. "The president may appoint anyone he wants, (or) he may form a search panel or take some names from all and select the commissioners."
Asked whether his party would prefer the current electoral commission reinstated, he skirted a direct answer. "We'll give names if [the president] seeks."
After Ganaforum, a delegation of a faction of Islami Oikya Jote (IOJ), headed by Misbahur Rahman Chowdhury, joined the presidential talks.
Misbahur Rahman said they proposed that Awami League and BNP give lists of people they would like to see take charge of the commission.
"The president will appoint two from Awami league's list, two from BNP's list and one of his own choice," he said.
"We told the president that there will be a balance if the EC is formed in such a way," he added.
President M Zillur Rahman sat with the Ganaforum leaders at Bangabhaban as part of a series of talks he is having on forming new Election Commission (EC) with political parties represented in parliament and other significant parties.
Dr Kamal Hossain, one of the authors of the 1972 charter, further proposed that a new law be made in line with the constitution to appoint chief election commissioner and other election commissioners.
After the dialogue, he said his party proposed return of the caretaker government system which the incumbent Awami League-led government repealed through the 15th amendment to the constitution going partly by a Supreme Court order.
Main opposition BNP has been demonstrating demanding revival of the provision.
"The demand of caretaker government is not only BNP's demand…the entire nation's demand is to hold a free, fair and impartial election," Dr Kamal Hossain said.
"We saw in the past that a partisan government cannot ensure this alone. It requires EC."
"But," he added, "The EC alone cannot do this if a caretaker government is not there."
Dr Hossain, a former president of the Supreme Court Bar Association, said, "The full court verdict is yet to be published. But the verdict opined in favour of keeping the caretaker government system for next two terms."
About the appointment of election commissioners, he said the new commission can be formed in three ways. "The president may appoint anyone he wants, (or) he may form a search panel or take some names from all and select the commissioners."
Asked whether his party would prefer the current electoral commission reinstated, he skirted a direct answer. "We'll give names if [the president] seeks."
After Ganaforum, a delegation of a faction of Islami Oikya Jote (IOJ), headed by Misbahur Rahman Chowdhury, joined the presidential talks.
Misbahur Rahman said they proposed that Awami League and BNP give lists of people they would like to see take charge of the commission.
"The president will appoint two from Awami league's list, two from BNP's list and one of his own choice," he said.
"We told the president that there will be a balance if the EC is formed in such a way," he added.