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PM for all-party govt

In address to the nation, she asks opposition to send names of MPs for inclusion in polls-time cabinet

SHAKHAWAT LlTON and Hasan Jahid Tusher
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday proposed forming an all-party electiontime government and urged the main opposition BNP to nominate its MPs for inclusion in the interim cabinet.
Hasina, however, did not specify the size of the cabinet and its scope of
work or who would head the cabinet. It is also not clear from her speech when the interim cabinet would be formed.
"We want to hold elections with participation of all political parties. My proposal to the opposition is that we can form an all-party government during the election," the PM said in her televised address to the nation.
Addressing the opposition, Hasina
said: "My proposal to the opposition party is that you give names of your MPs whom we can make members of the interim cabinet to form an all-party government so that, removing all doubts, we can hold a fair election through which people can form a government of their choice by casting their votes. "I am requesting the opposition leader to respond to my call. 11 hope) She [Khaleda Zia| will honour my request and value our sincerity."
The prime minister's offer comes at a time when further political unrest centring on the general election seems almost unavoidable.
In its initial reaction, the BNP last night spoke critically of the proposal, however. The main opposition party, which demands restoration of the caretaker government, would come up with its formal reaction after Khaleda sits with her party leaders tonight to discuss the latest development.
Talking to The Daily Star, several AL leaders said they preferred Hasina to be the head of the polls-time cabinet, but added talks could be held on the matter if the opposition wanted.
Replying to a query, a top AL leader said they would not send any letter to the opposition leader regarding the dialogue on formation of the interim cabinet.
According him and other leaders of the party, Hasina's call to the opposition leader is the formal invitation for talks.
"The prime minister through her address to the nation has formally invited the opposition to send names for inclusion in the interim government. If the secretary general of the BNP now contacts with our general secretary, a dialogue can take place anytime soon," AL Presidium Member Kazi Zafarullah told The Daily Star.
"It is now up to the opposition to respond to the call," he said, hoping that the BNP would act positively to resolve the crisis over the polls-time administration.
In her address, Hasina hinted dissolution of parliament before the election. In this regard, she explained the constitutional provision for holding the polls within 90 days since October 25.
She said according to article 72 (1) of the constitution, election would be held as per the written advice of the prime minister to the president. The Election Commission would announce the polls schedule.
"1 will advise the president in due time in consultation with all parties, particularly the grand alliance, so that the election can be held within the stipulated 90 days. In this regard, I expect advice from the opposition party too."
Under article 72(1), parliament shall be summoned, prorogued and dissolved by the president through public notification, and when summoning parliament the president shall specify the time and place of the first sitting. And the president shall act in accordance with the advice of the prime minister.
Hasina's proposal, however, is nothing new in the country's politics. Almost a similar proposal was rejected by Sheikh Hasina in 1994.
To break the political stalemate, Sir Ninian Stephen, a special envoy to the then Commonwealth secretary general, had proposed formation of an allparty cabinet at the time, when the AL-led opposition parties were agitating for introduction of a nonpartisan caretaker government system.
According to Sir Stephen's formula, an 11-member cabinet would be formed with the then prime minister Khaleda Zia in the chair. Five cabinet members would come from the ruling BNP and five from the AL and other opposition parties. And the interim cabinet would give all-out support to the Election Commission for holding the polls.
Khaleda and her party had accepted the formula then.
In her address, Hasina, also president of the AL, rejected the BNP-led opposition's demand for restoration of the caretaker government.
But she spoke for holding talks with the opposition to resolve the political crisis. "The door for discussion remains open. Keep confidence in the people and shun the path of criminal activities. Come to parliament and say what you want to say."