Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leaders have resolved that a decision about the form of government will be taken during the ensuing session of Parliament.

In a guarded reaction to the address of the Acting President Justice Shahabuddin Ahmed, the BNP Secretary General Barrister Abdus Salam Talukdar said that measures would also be taken to facilitate the honourable return of the Acting President to his original post.

BNP leaders had a closed door meeting at Prime Minis-ter’a office at Sugandha' immediately after the Acting President's address to the nation over radio and television.

BNP chairperson and Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia

was in the chair. The meeting lasted till 10-30 pm.

Salam Talukdar said that the Acting President in his address made two points —the first about his going back to his post, and the second about the form of government.

He said the meeting was of the view that the points made by the Acting President were very significant and meaningful in the context of the prevailing national political situation.

The BNP leaders, mostly ministers and state ministers, who attended the meeting looked composed and content. Begum Khaleda Zia left her office smiling.

They remained tight lipped as to the nature of the decision to be taken about the form of government, and to facilitate the return of the Acting President to his original post

However, Wednesday’s development will help and the BNP's three-month-long silence on the question of the form of government.

Following the February 27 election all other parties except the Jatiya Party started advocating for a* return to a parliamentary form of government.

BNP leaders only said that the question would be resolved in Parliament.

A constitutional amendment will have to be passed if the BNP opts for a parliamentary form of government. Support of two-thirds of the MPs of the 330-member House Is necessary for this. The BNP now has only f64 members in Parliament. It has to obtain support of another 57 members to pass any amendment.

If the BNP decides to continue with the present presidential form no constitutional amendment is necessary. All it has to do is go for holding presidential election.