Parties agree parliament dissolution, interim govt

A consensus comes from political parties on dissolution of the present parliament and the formation of an interim government within next couple of days to govern Bangladesh following the exit of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
In the light of the political consensus reached at a meeting, President Mohammed Shahabuddin would address the nation sometime on Monday night spelling out the country's future governance system along with details on the interim government, meeting sources said.
The meeting with the President and the Chief of Army Staff, General Waker-Uz-Zaman, also discussed immediate release of former Prime Minister and Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia, BNP Secretary-General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir told newsmen after the Bangabhaban consultation.
The meeting decided on release of all detainees, especially those who were arrested during the quota-reform movement from July 1 to August 5.
"We demanded the formation of an interim government within 24 hours and a general election within three months," said the BNP leader, who had led from the front an allied opposition movement for free and fair polls in absence his party leader.
The meeting laid emphasis on restoration of law and order in the country in the aftermath of the massive countrywide protests and subsequent resignation of Sheikh Hasina.
"It is our big victory! We have to be careful so that this achievement cannot be diverted to any other direction," said the BNP Secretary-General.
He also urges all to remain calm and refrain from any sort of vandalism, especially any attack on minority people.
The meeting, however, couldn't decide either who will be chief of the interim government or the number of the cabinet members in the interim government.
"We shall place our nominated names for the interim government soon following discussions with other BNP leaders," said Mr Mirza.
No representative from Awami League attended the meeting.
Recommendations from the coordinators of the students' quota-reform movement will get preference in the formation of the interim government, the political leaders agreed.
Among others, Mirza Abbas of BNP, GM Quader and Anisul Haque of Jatiya Party, Shafiqur Rahman and Md Masud of Jamaat-e- Islami, Mahmudur Rahman Manna of Nagarik Oikya, Mamunul Haque and Mahabubur Rahman of Hefazat Islam, Junaid Saki of Ganasonghati, Dhaka University Professor Asif Nazrul and three coordinators of the student movement - Arif Talukder, Abdullah Al Hossain and Mobashhera Karim Mim-took part in the meeting.

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