Nothing final on polls process, says Suranjit

Awami League advisory council member Suranjit Sengupta on Friday said nothing was final on how the next elections would be conducted and the door would remain open for discussions on the issue till the last moment.

He also called on the opposition to return to parliament and place their arguments in support of their demands ‘instead of waging a war against the people.’

‘Nothing is final; the door is open and will remain open till the last moment for discussion,’ he said at a discussion on ‘The Caretaker Government and Today’s Reality’ at Dhaka Reporters’ Unity in the afternoon.

Suranjit said it was too early to say how the next elections would be conducted and hoped that the opposition, which was boycotting parliament, would agree to hold discussions on the issue.

‘Going ahead of time is good but it may sometimes bring trouble. If we start discussing right now about things which will happen after two years, it might bring trouble. But I am sure they will come for discussion,’ he said, reciting a line from Tagore: ‘Samay Jedin Asibey Aponi Jaibo Tomar Kunje’ (I will visit your place when time comes).

He said the Awami League

government had shown ‘an extreme level of tolerance’ at every stage while amending the constitution and scrapping the provision of caretaker government.

‘The summary of the court ruling was that the provision of caretaker government was against the constitution and we just abided by it. We had invited them for discussion but the opposition leader refused on advice from a “famous barrister” fearing their attendance would give legitimacy to the amendment. Now she is threatening to wage a war,’ Suranjit told the discussion organised by Suchinta Foundation.

Jurist M Zahir called on both the ruling and opposition parties to reach a consensus to avoid a possible catastrophe. ‘Both the parties need to change their minds first,’ he said.

He said he had opposed the idea of caretaker government since it was proposed.

Referring to his opinion given to the court as amicus curiae in the case on the caretaker government, Zahir said he had suggested formation of an interim administration with representation of both the ruling and opposition parties which would only carry out day-to-day affairs.

He laid stress on a transparent electoral roll and strong Election Commission for holding fair polls. ‘Before the end of the government’s tenure, the Election Commission should go from door to door with representatives from the ruling and opposition parties and check the electoral roll,’ he said.

He lamented that the court had given a positive ruling but it failed to provide a full judgment yet.

Former chief of army staff Harun-or-Rashid questioned the demand of the opposition leader for a caretaker government. ‘Does a caretaker government guarantee fair elections? Were the elections of 1996, 2001 and 2008 fair? If so, why you are out of parliament now? Why had you brought the allegation of vote rigging?’

He laid stress on strengthening the Election Commission so that the government could not influence it. He cited the instance of former Indian chief election commissioner TN Seshan.

Source: newagebd.com/newspaper1

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