Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said on Wednesday President Abdul Hamid had advised her to lead the election-time interim Cabinet.
The statement comes a day after Opposition leader Khaleda Zia urged Mr. Hamid to mediate between the government and the opposition to decide on the form of interim government, without which she threatened to boycott the polls.
Addressing the last session of the 9th Parliament, Ms. Hasina said Bangladesh was heading for a general election to uphold the democratic process.
“The election will take place, and no one will be able to thwart it,” she asserted.
Ms. Hasina said the President had agreed on the interim administration as she outlined the process on the formation of an ‘all-party’ government. The Prime Minister said as per the Constitution she urged the President to take steps to organise the election, to which he agreed.
Saying the interim Cabinet would only perform routine work as in other democracies, Ms. Hasina again requested Ms. Zia to join the election Cabinet and ensure political stability.
The election, to be conducted by an independent election commission, would be free, fair and credible, the Prime Minister asserted.
The Constitution stipulates that parliamentary polls should be held by January 24 next year.
The Election Commission, meanwhile, said the schedule of the 10th parliamentary polls would be announced next week.
