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Opposition urged to convince govt in favour of caretaker system

Saturday, 12 November 2011


State Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Advocate Qamrul Islam has urged the opposition to convince the government in favour of a non-party caretaker administration to oversee the national elections. The interim caretaker system was abolished earlier this year through the 15th Amendment to the Constitution, reports bdnews24.com. The state minister told a discussion Friday that the BNP had already taken to the streets demanding revival of the caretaker system although the elections are still over two years away. "But they have not been able to substantiate their demand convincingly." Addressing the opposition, Advocate Islam said, "I urge you to show logical reasons behind your demand." Defending Awami League's (AL) campaign in 1996 for the same cause he said, "There had been an autocratic rule in the guise of democracy at that time." He said there had been militancy, torture on minorities, killings of journalists during the BNP's 1991-96 tenure. "Democracy was not safe although a parliamentary government was in power." The AL leader said he is afraid to even think of a non-party caretaker administration referring to the military-stewarded caretaker government that ruled under emergency rule suspending fundamental rights in 2007 and 2008. "Have you forgotten the events including torture of politicians, businessmen and students during the Fakhruddin-Iajuddin tenure?" he asked his audience naming the president and caretaker government chief of that time. The state minister said those demanding revival of the caretaker system 'live in a fool's paradise'. "It's a dead issue." "The current government believes in an independent Election Commission and the next election will most certainly be held under a politicians-led interim government and the Commission," he said. Addressing BNP, he said, "You too will take part in it." "The government didn't interfere with the commission's work and will not do so in future, either." He also urged the opposition to come away from 'violent' politics and return to parliament.