The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is inclined to putting pressure on the government through means of forging national unity in favour of an election-time government, according to political sources. While some political parties have welcomed this idea, the ruling Awami League and its allies do not see any basis for such unity.
The ruling party is clearly in little mood to shift from the constitution over election-related issues under any circumstances. It may be mentioned that the provision for a caretaker government was repealed by the fifteenth amendment to the constitution brought by the Awami League-led government when it assumed office in January 2009.
The BNP has been demanding a non-partisan election-time interim government since the polls of 5 January 2014. The party has reportedly been trying to consolidate its political ties with like-minded parties as a step toward exerting pressure on the government to concede the demand.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has told the media that he is confident about building national unity to persuade the ruling party to endorse the demand for a neutral interim government that will preside over the forthcoming general election.
On the other hand, Awami League leader Mohammad Nasim has said that the BNP does not have the support of the general masses of the country. In the face of such a reality, Nasim believes that the BNP will not be able to pressurize the government over this point.
Meanwhile, senior BNP leader and former law minister Moudud Ahmed has warned that the political situation in the country will undergo changes two months before the polls. For their part, Awami League leaders have asserted that the people of the will be on their side at all times.
Political analysts have suggested that the ruling party should deal with the opposition front tactfully given that a general election looms. Prominent citizens have urged both the ruling party and opposition parties to address the upcoming election and the debate over election-time government sagaciously.
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