Bangladesh News

As the reform dialogue seems to be heading for a cul-de-sac, the Awami League (AL)-led opposition will turn to the president for appointment of a caretaker government head other than Justice KM Hasan, who has been at the centre of the current raging controversy.

But before taking that ultimate route, AL General Secretary Abdul Jalil and his BNP counterpart Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan will sit again this morning for the sixth time to hammer out a solution to the deadlock.

A source in the AL last night told The Daily Star that the BNP may ask AL in today’s dialogue to accept KM Hasan as the chief of caretaker government and get some of its conditions, including changes in police and civil administration, fulfilled by Hasan administration. In that case, BNP will not object to the changes for the interim period.

Meanwhile, the left parties aligned with AL sat yesterday with eminent jurist also Gano Forum President Dr Kamal Hossain to chart the next course of action in case the talks fail.

Dr Kamal told the meeting that if need be he will meet the president and ask him to pick a ‘neutral’ person as the chief adviser to the next caretaker government that is supposed to be in place from October 28, sources said.

But hopes on the talks on Hasan are fizzling out fast as there had not been an inch of progress in the dialogue despite both Jalil’s and Bhuiyan’s claims of coming ‘very close’ to a solution to the crisis. If today’s talks yield no significant result, both the leaders might meet for a final round before October 27 when the present government’s tenure will officially end. If nothing comes out of the final meet, the AL-led 14-party will approach the president.

Political observers say if the president is saddled with the responsibility of picking a caretaker government chief, it could lay out a win-win situation for both BNP and AL. But for that to happen, Hasan will have to decline to assume the post and then the president can pick somebody else. In such a case, BNP can claim that it did not cave in to the opposition’s demand while AL can bask in the glory of ‘achieving’ its goal.

On the eve of today’s round of talks, that began on October 5 amid heightened hope in the public mind of resolving the ongoing crisis, Prime Minister also BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia yesterday talked to her party’s’ senior leaders and finalised the last moment strategy to be adopted in the talks.

Leader of the Opposition also AL Chief Sheikh Hasina who returns home this morning, will talk to her party’s senior leaders at Zia International Airport to review the latest situation of the talks.

Senior leaders of BNP and AL yesterday again reiterated their hope that the dialogue will succeed in breaking the standoff.

“We are optimistic about the success of the talks. I believe a solution will come out through the discussion,” AL General Secretary Abdul Jalil told The Daily Star last night.

BNP Standing Committee Member also Health Minister Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain yesterday said they are sincere and optimistic about the success of the talks. “We hope the opposition will sit tomorrow with a mind to reach a consensus,” the health minister said.

The left leaning 11-party coalition at a meeting yesterday discussed legal aspects regarding appointment of the chief adviser other than Justice Hasan, whose possible appointment as the chief of the interim government, in accordance with the constitution, the opposition coalition has been opposing vehemently terming him a BNP partisan.

The meeting also observed that the 14-party opposition coalition should meet the president on the same grounds.

“We will urge the president to resolve the crisis if the present government does not carry out the reforms,” AL Joint General Secretary Obaidul Quader told The Daily Star yesterday replying to a query.

If Hasan refuses to take oath as the chief of the caretaker government and if the president takes time to form the caretaker government, the possibility of street violence will increase as both the parties are preparing to establish their supremacy on the streets, particularly in the capital.

The AL-led opposition coalition launched a fresh spell of agitation programmes yesterday opposing Justice Hasan’s possible assumption of the office of the caretaker government chief. It also threatened to launch massive street agitations with oars and poles in hands on the day Justice Hasan will take oath in a bid to make the caretaker government unable to function. The opposition also threatened to enforce an indefinite strike protesting the possibility of Hasan assuming the post.

“We will continue our agitation programmes with oars and poles if a fruitful result does not come out of the dialogue,” said Jalil, who is also the coordinator of 14-party opposition coalition.

To counter the opposition, ruling BNP announced that it will take control of the streets at any cost and will hold rallies at Paltan Maidan for three days from October 27 to 29. Apart from that, BNP, which has been favouring Justice Hasan as the chief of the next caretaker government, directed its grassroots level leaders and activists to remain on the streets to counter the opposition politically.

BNP Secretary General Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan yesterday told reporters that his party will remain active on the streets after the tenure of the present government expires.

Sensing deterioration of the law and order situation, Dhaka Metropolitan Police is likely to impose a ban on processions with oars and poles, sources said.

Besides, directed by the home ministry, the police administration planned to initiate a ‘foolproof’ security measure in the capital as it fears a severe downtrend in law and order during handover of power or soon after the caretaker government takes over the helm of the country.

The police administration is acting to that end while the 14-party opposition coalition is preparing for a massive showdown on the streets to protest against the possible handover of power to Justice KM Hasan-led caretaker government, sources said.

Contacted by The Daily Star yesterday some senior police officials however said they will not go for any action to foil any political agitation unless they find any unruly activity.