Her announcement of holding the next general election under the present Awami League-led government has deepened the political crisis, said acting Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Sunday.
In an immediate reaction, he told reporters, “Everyone had hoped today that the Prime Minister will show the way-out of the current crisis and give positive directions. But unfortunately, there is nothing like that in her statement.”
“Her remarks over the next polls have only intensified the political crisis. This is clouding Bangladesh’s future.”
At a press conference earlier at the Ganabhaban, the Prime Minister said, “The Constitution will not be amended before the election. (We) amended the Constitution with people’s mandate. The election will be in line with the Constitution. I will not move an inch.”
But Mirza Fakhrul hoped the government will ‘come to its senses’.
“The government should take initiatives to resolve the crisis by sitting with all political parties and hold the elections under a nonpartisan government.”
The parliamentary elections are set to be held under the incumbent government in accordance with the amended provisions of the Constitution.
BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia has been leading long campaign for restoration of the caretaker government while repeatedly stating that her party will not take part in any election under a political government.
The 15th amendment to the Constitution that scrapped the caretaker provision came from a court of law but the BNP claims it is a ‘process’ by which the ruling party wants to retain power.