BNP for constitutional amendment for polls-time govt

Senior BNP leader Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain on Monday urged the government to amend the constitution to insert the provision of an election-time government.

"The prime minister has recently said an election-time government will be in place, but there's no existence of such administration in the constitution," he said.

Speaking at a discussion, he further said, "If you (PM) accept the election-time government system, you can amend the constitution to incorporate the provision since parliament is in function, and you have two-thirds majority to do that."

Mosharraf, a BNP standing committee member, said a non-party neutral election-time government system is crucial to include in the constitution to hold a fair and credible election and empower people to elect their representatives.

He warned that their party together with people will take to the streets to realise their demand if the government does not take step for arranging the polls under the non-party government.

Jatiyatabadi Muktijoddha Dal organised the programme at the Jatiya Press Club, marking the 82nd birth anniversary of BNP founder Ziaur Rahman.

In her recent address to the nation, prime minister Sheikh Hasina said an election-time government will be formed as per the constitution which will provide all-out cooperation to the election commission in conducting the next election.

Reacting to her comments, BNP leaders have been saying that there is a provision in the current constitution to constitute an election-time government.

About Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader's comment that BNP's stance on the election-time government is not clear, Mosharraf said, "There's no ambiguity in our demand as we've clearly said the election-time government must be neural one, no matter what its name may be."

He said the non-party government will only assist the election commission to hold a fair and impartial election.

The BNP leader alleged that the government is rather trying to mislead people over the polls-time administration issue.

Mosharraf said they will go to people to drum up their support once their chairperson unveils the framework on the election-time government.