Gen Ibrahim fears military, semi-military govt if Dec 18 polls not held
Monday, 27 October 2008
Maj Gen (retd) Syed Muhammad Ibrahim, chairman of the newly floated Kalyan Party, Sunday apprehended "military or semi-military government" as an option if the long-stalled general election could not be held on December 18, reports UNB.
In an interview with the UNB at his New DOHS party secretariat, he spelt out three options-first, elected government through December 18 polls, second, extended new caretaker government (CG) and thirdly, military or semi-military government (mixture of constitutional and extra-constitutional rule) if elections were not held on the announced date.
General Ibrahim's new party stands for December 18 elections and full lifting of the state of emergency.
Asked about gruelling confusion over the elections on schedule, he said for any reason, whatsoever, if two top leaders-Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina-or any of them could not take part in the elections or one of the two big parties could not join the elections, then the crisis would crop up once more in the country's baroque political arena.
In reply to a question, he said till date there was no bar to the two leaders contesting the elections. But, he added, still at least 21 days are remaining for the filing of nomination papers.
"They should go strong, but there are certain subtle issues," he said, adding that Jamaat-e-Islami may try for shifting the election date from December to at least January as "December is psychologically a weak month for them".
In reply to a question, Ibrahim said so far he thought the incumbent CG would not continue beyond December 31 and they would say 'thank you very much. We have tried our best' if the elections could not be held on December 18.
Asked whether he had talks with any Adviser of the CG to know their mindset, he retorted: "It's better to keep the truth concealed."
General Ibrahim, who is assumed conversant in current affairs in the polity, said: "Possibility is very bright for another CG. Symptoms are there… Instead of backing, they (army) may join the new CG."
However, he said having seen the preparations of the CG and public display by political parties, he had no reservation about their sincerity about the holding of and participation in the elections.
Asked if he apprehended any backlash after an elected government got installed either by Awami League or BNP, he replied in the negative "because to the best of my appreciation it is being taken care of now through the formal and informal dialogues."
In an interview with the UNB at his New DOHS party secretariat, he spelt out three options-first, elected government through December 18 polls, second, extended new caretaker government (CG) and thirdly, military or semi-military government (mixture of constitutional and extra-constitutional rule) if elections were not held on the announced date.
General Ibrahim's new party stands for December 18 elections and full lifting of the state of emergency.
Asked about gruelling confusion over the elections on schedule, he said for any reason, whatsoever, if two top leaders-Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina-or any of them could not take part in the elections or one of the two big parties could not join the elections, then the crisis would crop up once more in the country's baroque political arena.
In reply to a question, he said till date there was no bar to the two leaders contesting the elections. But, he added, still at least 21 days are remaining for the filing of nomination papers.
"They should go strong, but there are certain subtle issues," he said, adding that Jamaat-e-Islami may try for shifting the election date from December to at least January as "December is psychologically a weak month for them".
In reply to a question, Ibrahim said so far he thought the incumbent CG would not continue beyond December 31 and they would say 'thank you very much. We have tried our best' if the elections could not be held on December 18.
Asked whether he had talks with any Adviser of the CG to know their mindset, he retorted: "It's better to keep the truth concealed."
General Ibrahim, who is assumed conversant in current affairs in the polity, said: "Possibility is very bright for another CG. Symptoms are there… Instead of backing, they (army) may join the new CG."
However, he said having seen the preparations of the CG and public display by political parties, he had no reservation about their sincerity about the holding of and participation in the elections.
Asked if he apprehended any backlash after an elected government got installed either by Awami League or BNP, he replied in the negative "because to the best of my appreciation it is being taken care of now through the formal and informal dialogues."