Indemnity ordn rankles BNP

Resentment has surfaced in the ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), especially among the cabinet members, over the Joint Drive Indemnity Ordinance 2003, as the majority opposed it.

Secrecy over the ordinance has also annoyed most ministers and policymakers and made them feel ignored.

Many said the ordinance was promulgated at the advice of a handful of people who considered neither the future of the party nor widespread criticism both at home and abroad.

Highly placed sources said most policymakers were fully unaware of the ordinance. Even many cabinet ministers had been in the dark until they took part in the special cabinet meeting on Thursday.

The cabinet meeting was due to approve the president's speech to be delivered on the first day of the upcoming Jatiya Sangsad (JS) session on January 26.

Although some senior ministers made guesswork, they did not disclose it to other colleagues. The making of the ordinance was kept under wraps until it was placed before the cabinet meeting.

Even the law minister was not aware of it, although the law ministry drafts all laws, ordinances and other related matters, said a source.

The source said the move to promulgate the ordinance was taken by Communications Minister Nazmul Huda and it was prepared under his supervision.

Some ministers of the BNP hardline group supported Huda's move and convinced the prime minister.

There has been a controversy at the top of the ruling party since the deployment of troops on October 17 over how to get rid of the legal battle on custodial deaths and injuries received by hundreds of people during the joint drive, the BNP sources said.

Most senior ministers and policymakers were strictly against the ordinance and were looking for a legal cover free from controversy, they said.

Sources said the BNP leaders and lawmakers apprehend that the opposition may take the issue in the upcoming JS session in a serious fashion and speak against the ordinance and custodial deaths even during the thanksgiving motion on the president's speech.

It is undecided that how the Treasury Bench members will face the opposition in parliament over the issue and the joint drive that resulted in 44 deaths, they said.

The BNP leaders said the deaths and subsequent promulgation of the ordinance shattered what the joint drive achieved. They also fear stronger international criticism.