Bowing to mounting pressure, Premier Sheikh Hasina on Friday proposed the formation of an all-party interim Government to oversee Bangladesh’s next general election amidst uncertainty over the poll process due to differences between the ruling Awami
league and opposition parties. “My proposal to the opposition party - we can constitute an all-party Government during the election time,” she said during a televised address to the nation.
“I am requesting the Opposition leader (Khaleda Zia) to respond to my proposal. (I hope) she will honour my request and give value to our good wishes,” Hasina said in her 22-minute speech.
Hasina’s call came against the backdrop of a political impasse over the system for conducting the upcoming polls.
The main Opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has asked its activists and supporters to rally in the capital on October 25 to mount pressure on the Government to accept its demand for polls under a non-party caretaker Government.
In her address, Hasina urged the BNP to propose names of its parliamentarians for the cabinet of the election-time interim Government.
“Our aim is to hold a free, fair and peaceful election. We want to hold the next general election with all political parties represented in the parliament,” she said.
“Hence, I propose the opposition party give names of parliament members for the interim Government.”