***Letters for publication in these columns should be addressed to the Editor and legibly written or typed with double space. For reasons of space, short letters are preferred, and all are subject to editing and cuts. Pseudonyms are accepted. However, all communications must bear the writer's real name, signature and address.***

"New Formula for Caretaker

Government"

Sir. My attention was drawn to a news item published in The Dally Star of July 29th. 1995 under the above caption in which it was stated that Barrister Syed Ishtlaq Ahmed gave a formula for the formation of a caretaker government. According to his formula, ten individuals or more, nominated on a political consensus, would be elected through by-elections from the vacated seats of the MPs and they would form an Interim government within the constitutional framework to conduct the elections. This suggestion is now being widely discussed In ail newspapers in Bangladesh and is being supported by several other important personalities and legal experts as is evident from the newspaper re-

ports. Welcoming the effort of Barrister Syed Ishtlaq Ahmed. I would like to humbly mention that I made a similar suggestion, under prevailing circumstances at that time, when Sir Ninian Stephen was In Dhaka and it was published in your newspaper of November 16th. 1994 in the 'Opinion'' column under the caption "Suggestion for a Caretaker Government”. At that time negotiations between the ruling party and the combined opposition parties were in progress through the media tion of Sir Ninian. Obviously the opposition MPs didn't resign till then although the boycott was continuing. In that write-up I suggested "an outline of a plan for a caretaker government which will not require any amendment of the Constitution’’. To briefly describe the plan I will quote the following para-

graph from my original writeup:

"Six months before dissolution of the Parliament, six Members of Parliament from the ruling party and five from the combined opposition will resign and the vacant constituencies will elect, uncontested. a total of eleven new non-partisan Members of Parliament, six nominated by the ruling party and five by the combined opposition, who will form a new caretaker non-partisan government Immediately after dissolution of the Parliament."

I would have been happier if Barrister Ishtlaq and his supporters came up with this proposal at the time of publication of my article. The Implementation of this proposal at that time would have lieen much more easier and this could perhaps have changed the course of history of politics in Bangladesh As per terms of my proposal, if ac cepted at that time, the opposition Members of Parliameni would have re turned to the Parliament and enacted new laws to separate the Judiciary from tbs Executive. to further strengthen the Election Commission. to convert the

eieclronic media. i.e. Bangladesh Radio and Television into autonomous iHKlies like the BBC and to adopt a code for politics in Bangladesh. Last, but not the least, the present Parliament and the Government could complete a full 5-year term. This indeed could have been ihe beginning of a true democratic culture in Bangladesh. But unfortunately. very little attention was paid to my proposal when it was published. In fact it got lost amongst the hundreds published on this subject al the same time. Moreover, who would pay any aUentkMi io an article on politics and constitutional matters which is not written by a jiolitical pundit or a legal ex-perr*

Fiuallv. I would say "better laic i Ikui never" and wish Barrister Ishtlaq success in his mission although I understand that his task has now become more difficult due to the presence of so many vacant seats In the Parliament compared to the number required to form a caretaker government.

Dr Enor Abdul Matin

Haru Mutgi/xczcir Dhalai