Editorial
BNP to join parliament?
It should not be conditional
At least the BNP has expressed its intention of joining the parliament, and it is to be welcomed as far as it goes. What must surely be disappointing to all, particularly its supporters, is its attaching conditions for attending the House.
Regrettably, the list of BNP conditions and demands has accreted over time. This time they would join the parliament only if Mr. S.Q. Choudhury, who is facing several charges of crimes against humanity under the War Crimes Act, and is now incarcerated, is allowed to attend the parliament.
We thought that good sense has prevailed in the BNP as the expression of willingness to join parliament indicated, particularly in the backdrop of a positive motivation derived from a good showing in the polls. But all that has been spoiled by setting qualifiers to their joining.
The Speaker has a valid point when he says that unless the BNP puts up their demand in the House for allowing Mr. Choudhury to attend the parliament session, he will not be in a position to take up the matter with the government. We feel that the argument is unassailable if the BNP wants the intervention of the Speaker.
Indeed, there are instances of members of the parliament attending the sessions from jail. It is not a unique situation, but the matter can only be addressed if the BNP implored the Speaker from within the House and not make it a sole condition for attending parliament. Setting conditions for fulfilling their political obligation as representatives of the voters, smacks of an inherently negative outlook. It's time to shed it. For, can one be faulted for seeing this as playing politics with what is a given obligation for them to join parliament?
BNP's position is as untenable as it is ludicrous. Clearly it does not feel like living up to the renewed faith that the voters in the local elections have reposed on the party.
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