Time to act like a caretaker admin

The BNP yesterday asked the interim government to assume the role of a non-partisan caretaker administration to ensure that the upcoming national election is neutral and acceptable to all.

It made the demand when a three-member BNP delegation, led by Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, met Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus at the State Guest House Jamuna yesterday evening.

The delegation also urged Yunus to remove "party-affiliated advisers", if any, from the interim government and ensure that neutral administrative officials are posted during reshuffles ahead of the polls.

Yunus informed the senior BNP leaders that, as the adviser in charge of the public administration ministry, all administrative reshuffles ahead of the election would take place directly under his supervision, according to a statement issued by the CA's Press Wing.

"Deputy commissioner appointments would be made based on merit, with officials selected and placed appropriately before the election.

"It is our duty to remain neutral. The election is a major undertaking. We will choose the individuals [admin officials] who are capable of maintaining peace and order [during polls]. This will be [done] under my supervision. We will do whatever necessary to ensure a peaceful and neutral election."

Fakhrul, along with BNP standing committee members Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury and Salahuddin Ahmed, held an hour-long meeting with Yunus that began around 6:00pm.

Besides Yunus, Planning Adviser Prof Wahiduddin Mahmud, Law Adviser Prof Asif Nazrul, and Industry Adviser Adilur Rahman Khan were present.

"We will choose the individuals [admin officials] who are capable of maintaining peace and order [during polls]. This will be [done] under my supervision. We will do whatever necessary to ensure a peaceful and neutral election."

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus

On October 13, BNP standing committee meeting decided that party leaders would meet the chief adviser and the chief election commissioner to discuss the government's and EC's neutrality ahead of the polls.

After yesterday's meeting, Fakhrul told reporters that they raised several concerns. "To make the election, scheduled for February next year, neutral, and acceptable to all, the interim government needs to be shaped in the model of a caretaker government.

"For that, the administration must first be made completely neutral, and it must be apparent to the public."

He also demanded that officials in the Secretariat, who are "known to be accomplices of fascists", be removed and replaced with neutral officials.

On the district administration, Fakhrul said they raised concerns about certain individuals who continue to serve the interests of the previous regime. "We called for their removal," he said, adding that neutrality should be upheld in all appointments and promotions of government officials.

Regarding the judiciary, Fakhrul pointed out that some accomplices of fascists remain in the judiciary and urged that they be replaced with neutral ones.

Although the judicial matters fall under the judiciary's domain, the interim government is responsible for overseeing all affairs, he said.

Meanwhile, the CA Press Wing statement said Prof Yunus and BNP leaders discussed the preparation for the upcoming election.

It said the BNP leaders also presented several observations to the chief adviser regarding police recruitment and transfer procedures.

The party congratulated the government for involving political leaders in the United Nations General Assembly and for the successful signing of the July charter.

The leaders also expressed concern over the recent series of fires at various installations across the country and called for an investigation into whether these incidents were acts of sabotage.

The statement further mentioned that a Jamaat-e-Islami delegation is scheduled to meet the chief adviser today.

Ahead of the national polls in 1991, June 1996, and 2001, the caretaker governments reshuffled the administration and police.