Govt to think about lifting emergency if EC wants so

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Law Adviser Mainul Hosein yesterday said the caretaker government would discuss lifting the state of emergency if the Election Commission (EC) wants so in the interests of local government elections.

“It is the Election Commission who will fix the schedule and hold the elections. So let them say first what they want. We will discuss it with the chief adviser,” he said replying to a query.

The present government does not need the state of emergency to remain in power, he said adding that they would withdraw emergency only when they would think the time is ripe and doing so is needed for the sake of national peace and stability.

Talking to reporters at his ministry, Mainul said many qualified people are there to lead the nation. There must be a qualitative change in politics.

But the language the politicians still use suggests that hardly any change has taken place, he noted.

“Let the politicians commit themselves to not going back to the situation preceding January 11,” he said.

Coming down hard on politicians, Mainul said people have been struggling for democracy since the British rule. But politicians do little to help the cause. Instead, they become rich overnight and this is not right.

“Jealousy and hatred will have to be shunned for implementing objectives of the Liberation War and building up the nation,” he said.

The adviser said, “We want to listen less about election from those who failed even to prepare an acceptable voter roll.”

Everything would slip back to square one if election schedules are announced without considering the nation’s future. “We want elections to be held in a peaceful atmosphere,” he added.

Admitting that the caretaker government could not solve all problems, he said: “But at the same time it is also true that general people don’t want to go back to pre-1/11 days.”

UNB adds: Asked about the British high commissioner’s remarks that they had sought clarification from the government as to when it would withdraw the state of emergency, he said what foreigners want to know is not important.

“If there is no peace and discipline, it would be futile to dream of a prosperous future.”

Referring to lifting of emergency in Thailand, he said 121 ex-lawmakers including former Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra were not allowed to contest the election; still there was no violence.

Recalling the political culture during the Pakistan period, he said there was no jealousy and hatred at that time. Despite being a nation speaking one language, politics here is dominated by conflicts.

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