B Chy sees "nat'l govt" as solution

Bikolpodhara Bangladesh President Prof AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury yesterday called upon the prime minister to form a "national unity government" immediately to tackle the "present crisis" of the country.

"Don't sleep. Form a national government without delay," said the former president of the country, who was forced to step down in 2001.

He made the call from his Baridhara residence where BDB held his 85th birth anniversary celebration programme.

The BDB president said members of the incumbent parliament could not be included in the proposed national government as they were not elected through people's vote.

Elaborated on his formula, he said members of the ninth parliament, good people from other political parties and professional bodies would make up the national administration.

Terming the national election, held on January 5 last year, flawed and one-sided, he said only five percent of the people had voted in that election.

"There is no peace in the country in absence of the rule of law and democracy," he said, adding foreigners' confidence on Bangladesh would be corroded as the government was yet to arrest any of the killers of two foreign nationals.

"What the law enforcement agencies will do if the prime minister, her son and other ministers tell in advance that BNP and Jamaat were involved in the killing of the two foreigners?" he asked.

He also called upon the government to make it clear whether global militant outfit Islamic State has operations in Bangladesh.