The interim government will hold an election in the country after completing necessary reforms as per recommendations from six reform commissions and suggestions from political parties.
Professor Muhammad Yunus-led interim government鈥檚 spokesperson Syeda Rizwana Hasan made the disclosure at a press conference held at Foreign Service Academy following a meeting of the advisory council on Thursday.
At the press conference, Rizwana answered journalists鈥� questions regarding the formation of six commissions on the reform of six sectors in the country.
鈥楾he scope of these commissions has not been decided yet. They will start working initially. It has been decided that the Cabinet Division will provide secretarial support to these commissions,鈥� she said.
She said that the terms of reference will be fixed after the chief adviser鈥檚 return home from the United Nations General Assembly.
She said that other members will be included in the commission in consultation with the heads of the commissions.
鈥榃e hope that the commissions can submit their reports within three months. The interim government will then hold dialogues with political parties. The government is thinking of holding electionsonly after amendments regarding reforms and specific promises from them [stakeholders],鈥� she said.
A journalist mentioned that such commissions were made during the HM Ershad government, but the reports of those commissions were never published.
As the journalist wanted to know whether the same thing would happen this time, Rizwana said that the realities of the time of Ershadand this time were different and, so, the perspectives were also different.
She said that implementation of the recommendations of the reports would depend on political unity in favour of the proposed reforms.
鈥楩or this reason, we are also seeking opinions from political parties regarding the reform. And surely, this realisation is growing among the political parties,鈥� she said.
鈥楢fter building a political consensus through that dialogue, making specific commitments on reforms, and bringing necessary amendments to some fields, we are thinking of holding elections. Political parties have already made it clear that they wanted reforms first and then they would go for elections,鈥� she said.
Responding to a question about ongoing power cuts, she said that efforts were underway to solve the problem within two to three weeks.
She said that the government had taken various steps including repayment of electricity producers on a priority basis.
At the press conference, labour and employment adviser Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain said that the labour unrest would be brought under control as soon as possible.
鈥楾he advisers of the concerned ministries are sitting every day over the dissatisfaction of the workers. Yesterday [Wednesday] we also sat and six advisers were present there. There were incidents like arson attacks when a large company could not pay salaries. At that time, we talked to the governor of Bangladesh Bank and arranged a loan of Tk 79 crore. It has paid the salary of 40 thousand workers in that belt. That is why, there is less worker dissatisfaction today,鈥� he said.
He said that there were conspiracies and some valid demands of workers behind the worker unrest.
鈥楶olice arrested a youth for his involvement in attacking garment factories in Gazipur and later it was found that he was local unit president of Chhatra League [the student wing of Awami League],鈥� he said.
Responding to a journalist鈥檚 question, Rizwana said that the issue of bringing Sheikh Hasina back to the country to face trial was discussed in the advisory council meeting.
She said that Hasina should be put on trial as a spokesperson over the allegations of 鈥榤ass killings, torture and oppression鈥�.
Rizwana said that the procedure for her return would be determined when legal proceedings would be initiated.