Published : 01 Nov 2023, 12:38 AM
Updated : 02 Nov 2023, 10:21 AM
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has revealed her plans for the upcoming election-time government, saying it will be like the one formed for the 2018 polls.
Speaking at a press briefing on her recent visit to Brussels on Tuesday, Hasina said Bangladesh will follow democratic parliamentary systems that keep running during the election like in England, Australia, India and Canada.
“This means those of us who are here will carry out our regular tasks as the government during the election, and will do our routine tasks so that the government doesn’t become inactive.”
Following the announcement of the 11th general election in November 2018, four technocrat ministers were asked to step down and they did. The other ministers continued doing routine work.
The resignation of the ministers was accepted a month later on the day before the election.
In 2014, an “all-party” election-time government was formed. The government, led by Hasina, had let go of the ministers and state ministers and appointed six new officials.
The 29-strong cabinet then contained two representatives from the opposition party while the BNP refused to join.
According to the RPO, ministers will not get any facilities when the election schedule is announced.
“In 2014, I appointed some ministers from other parties, but didn’t do so in 2018. That’s how it is in other countries and will be the same [here in] this election as well,” Hasina said.
“Once symbols are assigned, the election campaign will set off. During the campaign, ministers won’t be able to use any authority or be able to use any government facilities, that’s the rule.”
“But the government won’t stop working, the daily routine tasks must be carried out. Otherwise, the whole country will come to a halt.”
“So we are not considering any other government during the election. [I’ve seen in] other countries, England, Australia, Canada… the countries that have parliamentary democracy. We will follow those who operate that way.”
On shrinking the government during the election, she said: “We’ve seen what problems occur if the government is made smaller in 2014 as many ministries remain inactive.”
“Our effort is not to let work be hindered so that our development flow remains intact.”
“When I become a candidate, I won’t do video conferencing from here. I will take a separate office, as I did last time.”
