CG system remains for confrontational politics

The caretaker government system could not be abolished unless the country gets rid of confrontational politics as it was put in place in the wake of confrontation and lack of trust among the political parties.
Noted economist Prof Muzaffer Ahmad said this as the chief guest at a roundtable on 'Cancelling the Fifth Amendment and Caretaker Government System: Future Bangladesh' at the National Press Club in the city yesterday.
Nagorik Forum organised the roundtable attended mostly by leaders from the opposition political parties, especially BNP.
Prof Muzaffer said, "The organisers told me that people of different political ideologies and views would join the roundtable, but here I see that did not happen. It won't be fruitful if we only hear the echoes of our own voice."
He also said, "In 1975, we, the 11 teachers of Dhaka University, protested the formation of Bakshal… However, Ziaur Rahman himself had greeted many people for joining Bakshal."
The BNP leaders said the ruling party wants to scrap the caretaker government system to cling to power by manipulating the elections.
Opposition Chief Whip Zainul Abdin Farroque said the people won't accept it if the ruling Awami League want to scrap the caretaker government system and the fifth amendment to the constitution.
The present government is trying to serve the interests of a neighbouring country, he alleged.
BNP chairperson's adviser Brig (retd) ASM Hannan Shah, BNP leader Moazzem Hossain Alal and Barrister Abdur Razzak of Jamaat-e-Islami also spoke at the roundtable.