Yet another Awami league (AL) presidium member, Ataur Rahman Khan Kaiser, yesterday came up with reform proposals including the one that none should simultaneously hold posts in the party and the government.
He said no one should be allowed to hold the posts of president. presidium member and general secretary for more than two consecutive terms.
"This provision should take effect following the next council,” Kaiser told reporters outside Al. President Sheikh Basina's Sudha Sadan residence. Earlier, he was barred from entering the former premier’s Dhanmondi house.
His proposals fallowed those of Abdur Razzak, Tofail Ahmed and Suranjit Sengupta, all three stressing the need for more democratisa-tion, decentralisation of power, and establishment of Joint leader-
ship in the AL
Describing his as personal opinion. Kaiser, known as a pro-Hasina leader, said reforms in the AL should be done with Its President Sheikh Basina taking active part in the process.
"The constitution of Awami League is quite acceptable. It's only that the proper practices will have to be ensured," he noted.
Saying that reform is a continuous process, he said, “I too want reforms, but I don't welcome the proposals of some senior leaders going beyond the party chief.”
He went on to say that he was not taking it casually that the reforms should be carried out with Hasina excluded from the process as demanded by some senior party leaders.
Referring to Suranjit, he said the former lawmaker in his proposals has called for going back to the constitution of '72 and at the same time said that executive power should rest with the president of the country, this is simply contradictory and not acceptable.
But if parliament wants, that too could be done by amending the constitution, he added.
On Hasina's proposal for retirement from active politics at the age of 60, he said he does not support the idea. "The leaders in India remain active in politics till they are 70 or 80 years old," he observed.
Asked for reaction to detained AL General Secretary Abdul Jalil's letter to the chief adviser, he questioned the newsmen, "How come you know it was written by Jalil? Who told you that he said the party is under a despotic leadership?"
About some leaders including Razzak, Tofail and Amir Hossain Amu alleging that the absolute powers of its head are responsible for the 'downfall' of the AL, he said the allegation is not true.
"The presidium used to meet in every two days before the stalled 22 January parliamentary election," he said.
Hasina's personal secretary Dr Hasan Mahmood was present among others.