Dhaka, July 5 (Just News): Prime minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday said that Bangladesh Nationalist Party must participate in the 11th parliamentary polls in any way to make the election a challenging one.
‘They will participate in the next parliamentary polls in any way. So, go to people from right now and stand by them to win the hearts of the voters as assuming office for the third consecutive time will be a tough one,’ said Awami League presidium member Faruk Khan quoting the prime minister as saying at a meeting of the Awami League Parliamentary Party at Parliament Secretariat.
‘The continuation of the government for another term is a must to keep the pace of ongoing development activities,’ she said.
Demanding the polls under a neutral administration, the BNP boycotted the last January 5, 2014 polls, held in line with the constitution.
The next parliamentary election is likely to be held in December.
The BNP leaders have been issuing threats to foil the next poll if it is not held under the neutral administration and its chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia, who has been languishing in jail on corruption charges, is not set free.
Hasina, also the president of the AL, directed the AL lawmakers to address internal feud in their respective areas ahead of the upcoming parliamentary elections.
‘I do not want any kind of internal feud in your areas before the polls. If the Awami League remains united, no party can defeat us,’ she said.
The premier said that the Election Commission is likely to announce the polls schedule in October.
‘After the announcement, we will start preparations for fielding our candidates,’ she said.
The AL president issued a note of warning to the party lawmakers saying that she would not provide nomination to those who did not have mass support.
She said that a survey was underway to select the party-backed candidates for the polls.
‘Party tickets will be given based on the opinions of the grassroots and the report of the survey. Those who do not have the mass support will not be given the tickets,’ she said.
The leader of the house directed all the lawmakers to remain present in parliament on July 8 as the government would bring the 17th amendment to the constitution to increase the term of the reserved seat lawmakers.
‘You have to remain present in the house and cast votes in favour of the amendment,’ she said.
The government on April 10 placed the ‘Constitution (Seventeenth Amendment) Bill 2018 before the House aimed at increasing the term of the reserved seat lawmakers for 25 years from the first session of the eleventh parliament.
According to the Article 65 (3) of the constitution, 50 seats would be reserved exclusively for women in parliament for 10 years from the first meeting of parliament after the one that passed the 14th constitutional amendment in 2004.
Accordingly, the first meeting of a new parliament in 2009, which meant the seats for women, will expire next year in line with the existing article.
The incumbent 10th parliament has 350 members — 300 elected in general elections and 50 MPs from seats reserved for women.
In 2004, the government brought the 14th amendment to the constitution to introduce the reserved seats and distribute them among the parties with proportionate representation.
The number of reserved seats was increased from 45 to 50 through the 15th constitutional amendment in 2011, but the amendment did not extend the term of the quota.
Another member of parliament Pankaj Debnath told New Age that prime minster also instructed the MPs to keep relations with others political parties so that Awami League never be alone.
Hasina also spoke at the meeting for over one hour and more than 200 members of the parliament took part in the meeting, Pankaj added.
(Justnews/ys/2310hr)
