The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Gano Forum President Dr Kamal Hossain yesterday said the national government or the government of national consensus comprising all political parties, who believe in multi-party democracy and committed to free the country from corruption, black money and religious militancy, could be formed before the general elections.

Former President and Chief of Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh (BDB), with which the Gano Forum (GF) entered into a two-party alliance back in 2005, proposed last year the necessity of forming a national government or government of national consensus that would run the country for two consecutive terms or 10 years to ensure non-return to the 'politics of confrontations' and unhindered national development.

JSD President Hasanul Haq Inu, after a bi-party meeting with the BDB, recently expressed his support to the concept of the national government or government of national consensus. Besides, a section of heavyweight leaders of the BNP, AL, Jatiya Party (Ershad), PDP and Kalyan Party are reportedly involved with the move.

The AL and anti-reform group of the BNP led by its Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain officially rejected the proposal before the polls, while former BNP Secretary General Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan, the top leader of the reformist faction of the party, said, "Such a government can be formed both before and after the general elections. But there should be pre-poll agreement between the parties."

"The concept of the national government or government of national consensus is neither unconstitutional nor contradicts any provision of the Constitution or law of the land," Dr Kamal Hossain told a private television channel last afternoon when asked about the criticisms that the Constitution does not provided the formation of such a government.

Such a government can be formed on the basis of agreement on basic national issues between the constituent political parties keeping in mind that there is a broad consensus among the people to establish multi-party democracy and root out corruption, black money and militancy, he said, adding, "The constituent political parties only would have to arrive at an agreement on pressing political and economic issues before formation of the Government."

Asked how the national government or the government of national consensus could be formed before the polls, when many political parties, including the two giants-the BNP and the Awami League (AL)-are insisting that such a government could only be formed after the elections if the majority party in new Parliament feels to do so, the renowned jurist proposed saying, "Such a government can be formed after holding a referendum on the issue."

When his attention was drawn to the criticism made by leaders of the AL and the BNP that the concept of the national government or government of national consensus is being propagated by those politicians, who would not win the general elections, he said such a government should be formed as per expectations of the whole people on the basis of some parties misperception.

"I, myself will launch a nationwide mass-campaign in favour of forming the national government or government of national consensus," said Dr Kamal, who is being speculated to be one of the prominent candidates for the office of the premiership of such a government.

One of the top architects of Bangladesh Constitution, Dr Kamal requested the leaders of the major political parties to give a thought to the proposal considering the consensus among the people and the call of the time.