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BNP proposes nat'l govt before next elections

Star Report
**The ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is learnt to have put forward a proposal to the Opposition for holding the next general elections under a broad-based national government headed by Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia.***
The proposal was made by the four-man government delegation at yesterday's session of the ongoing dialogue with
the Opposition at the state guest house Meghna.
The three-member Opposition delegation at the talks reportedly sought time to study the proposal and discuss the Issue'with other opposition allies.
headers of the opposition parties and groups are scheduled to meet at 11:00 this morning at the Sangsad Bhaban.
The talks yesterday lasted three and a half hours and was adjourned at 7.30 pm indefinitely.
The Commonwealth Secretary General's emissary. Sir Ninian Stephen, was present at the meeting. .
The ruling party delegation.
headed by Deputy- Leader of Parliamen t Prof A Q M Badrud-doza Chowdhury, comprised Chief .Whip of Parliament Khandaker Delwar Hossain, party Secretary General Abdus Salam Talukder and Communications Minister Colonel (Retd) Oli Ahmed.
Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the House Abdus Sa mail Azad led the team consisting of Chief Whip Opposition Mohammad Nasim and S AMS Kibria, political adviser to Awami League (AL) chief. Sheikh Hasina.
Sources close to the leaders who attended yesterday’s meeting said, the-ruling party delegation in its 'alternative pro-
posal' under certain constitutional provision suggested a 'nine-member mini cabinet', comprising members both from the ruling party and the Opposition in Parliament, to conduct the general elections.
According to the proposal, the mini cabinet will consist of five members from the ruling party and four from the parliamentary opposition. Prime Minister - Begum Khaleda Zia will head it.
N top leader of the BNP told The Daily Star that the proposal was made in the light of Article 56(4) of the Constlj tulion. The article reads: "ft occasion arises for making any
appointment under Clause (2) or Clause (3) between a dissolution of parliament and-the next following general election of members of Parliament, the persons who were such members Immediately before the dissolution shall be regarded for the purpose of this clause as continuing to be such members."
• According to Clause (2) and (3). the President will appoint as Prime Minister the member of Parliament, who appears to him to command the support of the majority members.
Meeting sources said the Opposition negotiators, referring to the same article, argued that the particular provision permits forming q care-'taker government With a 'nonpartisan' person as Its head. But the ruling party leaders insisted the spirit of the article is that the incumbent head of the government will continue till the next elections if Parliament is dissolved by the President.
Inclusion of the Opposition members in such an interim cabinet was termed by the Luling party negotiators a 'con-
cession' to the Opposition, the sources said.
Th? Opposition negotiaiors. however, are learnt to have stuck to their original position on a caretaker administration . for holding polls. But they did not straightaway reject the new proposal from the government side.
After the meeting, the Opposition negotiators — all from the AL — met party chief and Leader of the Opposition in Parliament Sheikh Haslna at her official residence at Minto Road. , '
"We are passing through a crupial moment.lt will be un-, wise to make any comment right now," Mohammad Nasim told newsmen.
Earlier, a brief statement read out by Sir Ninian's aide Christopher Childs said, as planned, the two deputy leaders continued their meetings.
, The time and date of the next meeting will be announced later," he added.
A ruling party source said they had requested the _ facilitator' to adjourn the meeting till Sunday as two of their negotiators had some preoccupations.