Staff Reporter :
Though pro-Awami League discussants claim that there is no crisis and election will be held under their government without dissolving the parliament, Barrister Mainul Hosein strongly expressed his deep anxiety for such claims at a talk show held Wednesday night on Rtv conducted by Selim Omrao Khan. The other participants were Justice Syed Amirul Islam, former Law Minister Advocate Abdul Matin Khasru MP, Senior Journalist Mahfuz Ullah and Vice-Chancellor of National University Professor Dr Harun-Or-Rashid.
He said that knowing that the Prime Minister will not sit with Begum Khaleda Zia he thought there would be no problem to sit with Dr Kamal Hossain as he is now the leader of the unity election alliance. There cannot be any objection from any side.
Barrister Mainul was very critical of the challenge to the opposition that they must organise movement to show they have the support of the people and pointed out that the constitutional democracy is to prevent street movements by offering ways of settling political differences through dialogue. As such provocations will have violent consequence. This is not constitutional politics but muscle politics.
He painfully added that he sees widespread violence if the government forced an election upon the people which is not free and fair for the people to choose their government. The government seems to be fully unaware of the grievances of the people against mismanagement and oppression all over the country. The government thinks police cases can suppress opposition. There is nothing to show government’s intention to solve political problem politically.
Barrister Mainul pointed out the contradiction in the Prime Minister’s position by citing the example that she refused to accept election under then Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia and at Sheikh Hasina’s insistence the government introduced the caretaker provision in the Constitution. Now as she is in power she changed the Constitution unilaterally and asking others to join the election under her as Prime Minister. Not only that she will not even dissolve the parliament.
Barrister Mainul finds no honesty and constitutionally in such a position where even the parliament will not be dissolved. The government just does not want to face people and accepts defeat.
To be afraid of free election under an impartial government does not convince anybody of the popularity of the government, he added and said further that he is for peace and understanding. The government wants violence and not free election.
