BNP ready to accept Rafique-ul Haq as CG head

Dhaka : The main opposition BNP on Sunday welcomed noted lawyer Barrister Rafique-ul Haq's willingness to head the polls-time interim government.
"If the government meets our demand for reinstatement of a non-party caretaker government, we won't have any objection to accept him (Rafique-ul Haq) as its head," senior BNP leader Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain told a discussion. The BNP leader also urged the government to restore the caretaker government system and accept the veteran lawyer's proposal to resolve the ongoing political crisis.
He came up with the positive reaction to Rafique's Saturday's remarks that he was ready to be head of the polls-time government in the greater interest of the country.
Speaking at a meet-the-press programme at Dhaka Reporters' Unity, the seasoned lawyer said he would accept the responsibility of a "polls-time government" if asked to do so. He said this in reply to a question whether he agree to take up the charge of a "polls-time government" if offered.
Rafique, who served as a counsel for both Awai League President Sheikh Hasina and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia during the last caretaker government's tenure, also said he would take steps to make the chiefs of the two parties agree to sit in a dialogue on the caretaker government issue for the sake of the country. Later at night, he went to the BNP chairperson's Gulshan residence and had a two-hour long meeting. Referring to Rafique's initiatives to have a dialogue between the heads of the two major parties, Mosharraf said Awami League and BNP can hold a dialogue but the CG issue must be there in the agenda.
About the Gazipur by-polls, the BNP leader said the poor turnout of voters and empty polling centres proved that people have rejected elections under a partisan government.
Turning to Sonali Bank's loan scandal, the BNP leader said the government is trying to hush up the Hall-Mark scam as its high-ups and ruling party men are involved in it.
He slammed the government for its inaction against Hall-Mark group MD Tanvir and not filing any case in this regard. Sangbidhanik Odhikar Forum, a pro-BNP body, organised the discussion, titled 'Corruption and Irregularities in Banking Sector: Country's Development and Democracy at Stake', at the National Press Club. unb