AL mulls same formula

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina might form an all-party interim cabinet to supervise the next parliamentary election as she did earlier, said some leaders of the ruling Awami League yesterday.

And AL's archrival BNP, which rejected the all-party polls-time government in 2013, may not do the same this time, according to some BNP leaders and pro-BNP intellectuals.  

In 2013, Hasina urged the BNP, then main opposition in parliament, to nominate its MPs for inclusion in the interim cabinet. 

Refusing to budge on its demand for restoration of non-partisan caretaker government, the BNP turned down the offer and boycotted the last parliamentary polls in 2014.

To oversee that election, Hasina finally formed a 29-member polls-time council of ministers comprising MPs of AL, Jatiya Party, Workers Party and Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal. 

Ahead of the next parliamentary election in 2019, the prime minister might go ahead with the idea again and invite the BNP to join the polls-time cabinet, AL insiders say. 

"The issue of formation of a polls-time all-party government has been discussed in the party forum a few days ago. The prime minister may take an initiative in this regard," an AL central working committee member, who was present at the discussion, told The Daily Star on condition of anonymity.

Some BNP leaders said they are no longer rigid on their demand for a non-partisan election-time government. The type of election-time administration can be determined through discussions, they added.

“If the government considers forming an all-party government, we will certainly welcome it. But the government has to come forward with the idea and hold talks with the major political parties, including the BNP. Our party is in favour of talks on any national issue,” said Mahbubur Rahman, a member of the party's national standing committee.

Abdullah Al-Noman, a vice chairman of BNP, said situations have changed and this is not 2013.

"If the government has good intention and sincerity, talks can be held to resolve all the problems. The Awami League is speaking positively on participatory polls and the BNP is also speaking the same. Now talks are required to reach a consensus,” said Noman.

Pro-BNP intellectual and Gonoshasthaya Kendra founder Zafrullah Chowdhury thinks the BNP may welcome the idea of an all-party government, as proposed by Hasina in 2013, with some modifications through talks.

Moudud Ahmed, a member of the BNP's national standing committee, however, said everything depends on the political negotiations and time will tell what is good.

Contacted, AL Presidium Member Kazi Zafarullah said the government wants a free, fair and participatory election. 

"Our leader Sheikh Hasina already expressed her willingness to hold a participatory election," he added.

About the polls-time government, he said they first want a credible Election Commission and then they would place some proposals to the EC for holding of a free and fair election.

Talking to The Daily Star, some AL leaders said the size of the interim government would be discussed later on. But they did not say when.