Citizens for consensus on poll-time government

Moloy Saha and Sadiqur Rahman

Civil society members, including academics, professionals and freedom fighters, on Saturday said that the issue of the election-time government should be resolved for holding a free, fair and inclusive general election.

The country would face a dire and confrontational situation if the issue was not resolved through consensus between the government and opposition political parties and it is the government that should take initiatives to resolve it first, they told New Age on Saturday.

They made the observations in reactions to comments made by prime minister Sheikh Hasina at a press conference on December 7, ruling out any possibility of holding talks for bringing all political parties in the next general election.

She said that political parties in a multiparty democracy had the responsibility to participate in the polls.

‘The parties, who believe in democracy, will participate in the polls. It is the decision of a particular party whether to participate in the polls or not,’ Hasina said at the briefing at her official residence Ganabhaban after her three-day Cambodia visit.

Dhaka University professor Abul Quasem Fazlul Huq expressed hope that the political parties would be able to reach a consensus to avoid confrontations before the next general election.

The ruling and opposition political parties should be sincerer in saving the country and its people, he said.

The political parties who want election-time neutral government other than the constitutional provisions should give their written proposals, h said, adding that those parties had not presented any such proposal so far to enable people to consider the justifications of the demands.

Freedom fighter Zafrullah Chowdhury, also Gonoshasthaya Kendra founding trustee, expressed hope that the issue of the election-time government would be resolved and the next general election would be free, fair, credible and inclusive.

‘We want a free, fair and participatory general election so that the voters can apply their voting rights,’ Zafrullah said.

He believed that the comment of the prime minister was a political rhetoric and she would take steps to resolve the issue of the election-time government. 

Architect Mobasher Alam said that in a democracy the ruling party had a responsibility to create a strong opposition party in parliament.

‘We want a free, fair, credible and inclusive election in the country, where the voters would cast their vote for electing the next government,’ he said.

As a ruling party, the Awami League should take initiatives for holding a credible election, he added.

Cultural activist and actor Ramendu Majumder, said that the next general election would be held according to the constitutional provision under the incumbent government.

If the Election Commission is empowered, it can hold a free, fair and credible general election, he added.

Dramatist and actor Mamunur Rashid said that the issue of the election-time government should be resolved through consensus between the government and the opposition parties.

In a democracy, negotiation, discussion and interaction are the essential components, he said.

He believed that the issue would be resolved and country would get a free, fair, credible and inclusive general election. 

Newagebd.net