The AL deadline

. PHOTO: AFP

The Awami League threatened and vowed that it would oust the BNP alliance government from power by 30th April, 2004, though the party has now climbed down a bit from its position.

Some political VVIPs like Dr. Badruddoza Chowdhury, Dr. Kamal Hossain and others also asked the prime minister to step down for various reasons.

But the BNP says that the people have given mandate to the alliance government to run the country for five years and as such the question of quitting power by them does not arise at all before the expiry of their term.

The question is, even if the prime minister decided to quit, who would have succeeded her? Sheikh Hasina, Dr. B Chowdhury, Dr. Kamal Hossain, Hussain Mohammad Ershad or any other person? What would have been the basis of her/his authority?

Nobody says that she/he wants to become the next prime minister. But as a matter of fact everybody wants to capture the peacock throne of Bangladesh. But as soon as one sits on the throne, others start opposing the prime minister . This is the common political phenomenon in our country.

The Awami League had been insisting that it would remove Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia from power by hook or by crook on or before 30th April. But it never spelled out how it would oust the government from power? What would be its modus operandi for toppling the government?

Only recently the Awami League General Secretary Abdul Jalil said that the Awami League would oust Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia from power through constitutional means.

Awami League MPs do not attend parliament. They do not possess sufficient votes to pass a no-confidence move against Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia's BNP-led alliance government which enjoys two thirds majority in the Jatiya Sangsad.

So what would the Awami League do?

It is reported that the Awami League MPs in the Jatiya Sangsad would resign en-masse and demand mid-term general elections in the country. Would that be enough to force the government out?

Assuming that something like en masse resignation will take place, we can foresee what will happen . The Election Commission would hold bye-elections to all vacant seats of the Awami League MPs within 90 days. So there is a prescribed method of facing the situation; so we cannot understand how the AL is planning to oust the government.

If there is political chaos and confusion, and a mid term election is held, what would be the ultimate output and result of tenth mid-term election? Would not the party or parties, which would lose in the election, blame the caretaker government?

It is suggested that our political leaders Begum Khaleda Zia, Sheikh Hasina, B Chowdhury, Dr Kamal Hossain, Hussain Mohammad Ershad, Rashed Khan Menon and all others concerned may kindly think about the pros and cons of the political situation prevailing in the country, and arrive at a consensus of opinion on the following/points and then take any action they might deem necessary in the greater interest of the country.

1. Powers and functions of the caretaker government.

2. Independence of Election Commission.

3. Acceptance of the results of the general elections.

4. Maintenance of law and order.

5. Attendance of Jatiya Sangsad by MPs.

6. Eradication of illegal toll collection, bribe and smuggling.