No homework done by BNP

The main opposition BNP did not do proper homework before its Chairperson Khaleda Zia proposed forming a polls-time administration by picking 10 advisers from the 1996 and 2001 caretaker governments.
The two caretaker governments had 10 advisers each. But two of them being common to both governments there were a total of 18 individuals in the two cabinets. Of them, four have passed away.
Those who have died are Syed Ishtiaq Ahmed (who served as adviser in both governments), Prof Shamsul Haq, Justice Bimalendu Bikash Roy Chowdhury and Maj Gen (retd) Moinul Hussain Chowdhury.
Of the remaining 14, some are not in good health due to old-age complications while some others are unwilling to take state responsibility again amid the existing political stalemate.
Wahiduddin Mahmud, an adviser to the 1996 caretaker government led by Justice Habibur Rahman, said politicians themselves would have to solve the problems they had created.
"Outsiders at this stage cannot help much," he told The Daily Star, adding that the two major political parties [Awami League and BNP] could begin a dialogue on their proposals.
M Hafiz Uddin Khan, an adviser to the 2001 caretaker administration led by Justice Latifur Rahman, said a few of the advisers had already died while the rest would not agree to the formula.
"I am not sure whether I will agree. It will be better for the two political parties to discuss each other's proposal and resolve the problem," he told a private television channel last night.
Contacted, Nazma Chowdhury, an adviser to the 1996 caretaker administration, declined to talk on the issue.
According to SM Shahjahan, adviser to the 2001 caretaker government, it was too early to comment on the proposal.
In her proposal, Khaleda also said a person respected by and acceptable to both the major parties could be appointed as the chief adviser.
She, however, proposed the formation of the election-time government only for the upcoming 10th parliamentary polls, not for the 11th or next general elections.
Meanwhile, given the country's ongoing political impasse, many political analysts believe it will be almost impossible for the two political archrivals to reach an agreement over the polls-time government.