Editorial
Indications from BNP to join JS welcome
They will be the gainer, and so the democracy
That BNP is considering to attend the parliament's winter session sounds not only 'proper' but also auspicious. It will be 'proper' because of the prospect of ending a stand-off from the "House of the People" thereby playing the opposition's legitimate role. And the auspicious part it is in a possibility of debating the contentious caretaker issue in a bid to resolve it.
The opposition's boycott culture with its avoidance of parliament to remain in the street and reel off tirade against the ruling party have neither benefited the party nor democracy of which parliament is the centre.
Any positive political programme of the opposition is well received by the people. A case in point is their shunning hartal and embracing peaceful long marches across the country. Buoyed by the success, BNP is now said to be planning to use parliament as a platform to articulate their demand on restoration of caretaker system in the constitution. If they join the parliament and present their formula they have the chance to mobilise public support for their cause more effectively. Should the ruling party fail to provide them with an adequate space, that too would be exposed to the people.
BNP must realise that caretaker issue will have to be essentially resolved through the parliament and not by talking angrily outside it to unseat a constitutional government.
What we would urge both sides to do is to engage each other and have quality debate on caretaker and other related issues like reconstitution of the outgoing Election Commission in a constructive frame of mind based on a spirit of mutual accommodation in the best interest of the country.
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