Move on to talk Hasan out of interim govt job

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A secret move is underway to break the political deadlock by convincing Justice KM Hasan not to accept the post of chief adviser to the next caretaker government “for greater interest of the nation”.

But Justice Hasan maintained silence over the requests made by different quarters as part of the secret move, sources close to those who initiated the move said.

The sources said a few well-known persons from the country’s political and cultural arena are maintaining close relations with ruling BNP and main opposition Awami League (AL) about the developments of their move.

They have planned to engage more eminent personalities to convince Justice Hasan to feel “embarrassed” to accept the post of caretaker government chief to avoid political crisis ahead of the next parliamentary elections, sources added.

Whatever result comes out from the ongoing BNP-AL dialogue and the secret move, its disclosure is unlikely before October 28 to maintain a win-win situation for the two camps.

Although the talks between BNP Secretary General Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan and AL General Secretary Abdul Jalil resume on October 16, there is little possibility that any decision will be taken on the vital issue of Justice Hasan in the absence of the chiefs of the two parties and alliances.

Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia is scheduled to leave Dhaka for Saudi Arabia on October 14 while AL President Sheikh Hasina leaves the country today for the USA and UK. Both will return after October 20.

Jalil also leaves Dhaka today for Singapore for a medical check-up and is scheduled to return on October 15.

Eid vacation begins after the return of Khaleda and Hasina and after the vacation it will be time to hand over power to the caretaker government.

If everything goes in accordance with the plan, the dialogue may continue a few more days, even after expiry of the present government’s tenure on October 27.

Meantime, the group of eminent persons is determined to convince Justice Hasan to decline to take oath as the chief adviser when the president invites him after October 27, sources said.

The president will then go for the other options in accordance with the constitution to appoint the chief adviser, to which the AL-led 14-party opposition combine has already declared that they have no objection. The BNP-led ruling alliance has also kept claiming that they will not go beyond the constitution.

If Justice Hasan makes his announcement after October 27, the negotiators believe, it will lead to a win-win situation for both the ruling and opposition alliances.

“It will prove that the ruling BNP is not defeated by the opposition while the opposition’s demand will also be fulfilled,” said a source quoting the negotiators who are also trying to coax Justice Hasan into clearing his position by issuing a statement that he is not bias to any political party.

Although the ruling BNP has remained rigid on its stance on Justice Hasan issue, it may ultimately compromise on leaving the issue upon the president’s consideration following expiry of its tenure.

“We will not give the opposition alliance scopes to celebrate victory in the streets by recognising their demands on Justice Hasan issue,” a senior BNP leader told The Daily Star.

There is no way but to continue the dialogue until reaching a consensus. The ruling BNP secretary general and AL general secretary claimed on Tuesday that they have become “very closer” on many issues.

The opposition alliance is waiting for the outcome of the dialogue, refraining from street agitations at the moment to press home their demands for reforms in the caretaker government system, Election Commission and electoral laws.

The opposition leader already called upon people to throng the capital with whatever they have on the day Justice Hasan assumes office as the chief adviser to make the Hasan-led caretaker government unable to function.

The AL has also directed its grassroots level leaders to make preparations for launching vigorous agitation if its demand is not met.

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