AW AMI League is now clamouring for elec- • tlons under caretaker government. But our experience tells us that they will not accept the results of such elections if the same go against •them. The people will recall that the Awami League chief did not wholeheartedly accept the results of the election conducted by the caretaker government of Justice' Shahabuddin only because it did not go in favour of Awami League.

The results of the by-elec tlons which went in favour of Awami League had nothing wrong In them but those which went against them were fraught with IrregulariUes. corruption, terrorism’ and what not. Similarly. Mayoral elections of Dhaka and Chittagong were acceptable but others were not.

Awami League firmly be-

lieves in political opportunism. Their past records will bear it out. When Ershad elbowed out the elected government of Sattar they felt happy and complacent. Since Ershad's action was unconstitutional, outwardly they said they opposed autocracy but hastened to participate In the election held under the autocratic regime of Ershad.

Awami Leaguers have now Joined hands with Jatiya Party and Jamaat to embarrass the BNP government on the issue of holding elections under caretaker government. Gone is the outcry against Jamaat and gone Is the struggle of "Ohadany " The so-called clamour for holding elections under caretaker government Is a hoax and a subterfuge for creation of chaos and anarchy In the country. I am opposed to holding elections under a caretaker government for the

following reasons:

a) This issue of caretaker government was not raised or considered at the time of passing the 12th Amendment to the Constitution, though Jamaat and Workers Pgrty raised the point, both Awami League and BNP refused to lend their support to the issue for the simple reason that In the parliamentary system gov eminent In power is answer able and accountable to the Parliament and the people. While a-caretaker government is not answerable to anybody and as such holding of any election under such an arrangement Is anachronistic and uncalled for

b) Again, if elections to Par liament are held under a care taker government then elections to all local bodies and subsequent by-elections to Parliament. If any. should also be held likewise for the same

reason that elections to Parliament were held under the caretaker arrangement. Otherwise, it will be treated as a policy of expediency.

c) There will be two parallel government — one elected and the other caretaker

d) Then again nobody can guarantee hundred per cent neutrality of the caretaker gov ernment and none can also en sure that the defeated party will not complain of subtle or flagrant rigging subsequently

el Last but not least the demand has come from Awami League two years before the due date of holding the next general elections with the ul terlor objective of holding midterm elections though the present government enjoys comfortable majority In Par liament

The writer is a reared <0 cer