BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia yesterday categorically rejected the
Supreme Court's full verdict declaring the caretaker government system
illegal, saying her party won't accept the "illogical, contradictory [to
its earlier short order] and politically motivated verdict".
She also made it clear the main opposition party won't participate in any election based on this verdict.
The
full text of the verdict, released on Sunday, reflects the prime
minister's recent statements on polls-time administration, and is
inconsistent with the short order, the BNP chief said at a crowded press
conference at her Gulshan office in the capital.
"This unethical
and politically motivated verdict is ineffective due to logical
grounds. It will create instability and aggravate political crisis,"
said the leader of the opposition in parliament.
The verdict will not be able to hamper the ongoing movement against the government, she added.
Khaleda
accused former chief justice ABM Khairul Haque (chief justice when the
short order was given) of bringing "unethical changes" in the full text
of the verdict on the constitution's 13th amendment cancellation.
"Differences
are clear between the short order and the full text of the verdict, and
this amounts to judicial misconduct. A retired judge cannot write a
verdict but Khairul Haque did that. The verdict is biased, unacceptable
and cancelable," she said.
Khaleda added, "In the recent verdict
[full text] the former chief justice gave the directive for a caretaker
government with elected representatives, which is a direct reflection
of the prime minister's statement and contradictory to his previous
order. Such biased attitude of the judge is a serious judicial
misconduct."
In the full text of its verdict, the SC said the next two elections may be held under caretaker government comprising lawmakers.
On
May 10 last year, the then chief justice Khairul Haque gave the short
order declaring the caretaker government system illegal. Later, the
government removed the system from the constitution through an
amendment, which triggered a spate of political controversy.
BNP
strongly protested the move and declared that they won't take part in
any election if it is not held under a non- party neutral government.
The
government said it won't restore the caretaker government system, and
election would be held as per constitutional provisions.
And the BNP-led alliance threatened to go for tougher movement to compel the government to restore the caretaker system.
Khaleda once again asserted this at yesterday's press conference.
Recently,
during her UK visit, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina proposed formation of
a small cabinet, that would also include BNP representatives, to
oversee the election. And on Wednesday, she announced in parliament that
the next election would be held after dissolution the House.
On
Hasina's latest statement, Khaleda said it is nothing but an attempt to
mislead the people. "She [PM] is planning to hold a stage-managed
election while staying in power. But our position is clear. There is no
alternative to a non-party neutral government. People will not accept
election under a political government."
Asked about the
consequence of the rigid stances of both the Awami League and the BNP,
Khaleda said they want a peaceful handover of power, and that is why
they demanded restoration of the caretaker government to ensure people's
right to vote.
Bitterly criticising the former chief justice,
Khaleda said in the May 10 (last year) short order, he said the 10th and
11th parliament elections can be held under caretaker government, but
in the full text he changed his stance and proposed holding election
under a political government.
"Such dissimilarity between the
short order delivered in the court [SC] and the full text [of verdict]
is unprecedented. Undoubtedly, it has been done to implement an ill
political motive," said the former prime minister.
Khaleda alleged
that the proposals in favour of the government stance showed that he
[Khairul Haque] has rewritten the verdict to fulfil the government's
desire.
"Contradictory proposals were made in the verdict to
implement the government's desire, and such a heinous example of
politicisation won't be found in any court in the world," she said.
The
BNP chief warned that agitation will be tougher day by day to foil the
government's "conspiracy to hold a farcical election under a political
government."
Senior BNP leaders including acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir were present at the press briefing.
Electricity went off at least 10 times during the briefing.
