BNP sought neutrality, not caretaker system Asif Nazrul
Staff Reporter :
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) did not demand the reinstatement of a caretaker government during its recent meeting with the interim administration but rather called for an impartial role from the current government during the forthcoming national election, Law Affairs Adviser Dr. Asif Nazrul said yesterday.
Speaking to reporters at the Secretariat on Wednesday, the adviser clarified that BNP’s position was to seek neutrality in governance, not
structural changes to the existing interim setup.
“What I understood from the discussion is that the BNP did not ask for a caretaker government. They said the interim government should act neutrally, like a caretaker government,” Asif Nazrul explained.
He added that BNP representatives expressed their desire for a fair and transparent election process, to which the government responded by assuring them of its neutrality.
“The party wanted a neutral role from the government, and they were assured that neutrality is already being maintained. The Chief Adviser himself has guaranteed this,” he said.
According to the adviser, Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus will personally oversee key administrative postings and transfers to ensure fairness in the lead-up to the polls.
When asked about speculation that the Council of Advisers might be downsized during the election period, Dr. Nazrul dismissed the notion, saying, “No such issue was discussed anywhere. It is a matter for the Council of Advisers, and no party has made any demand to reduce its size.”
In a separate remark, the law adviser praised the Bangladesh Army’s cooperation with the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT), following the appearance of several army officers before the court in connection with an ongoing case.
“The manner in which the army members appeared before the tribunal, and the cooperation extended by senior military officials, including the army chief, deserve high praise. Their respect for the rule of law is very encouraging,” he noted.
Regarding the decision to keep the officers in a sub-jail, Asif Nazrul said the issue falls entirely under the jurisdiction of the Home Ministry, which will act according to its legal discretion.
The BNP delegation met with the chief adviser on Tuesday as part of the government’s ongoing dialogue with political parties, aimed at ensuring an inclusive and credible national election.