Hasan Mahmud

There is no obligation in constitution to form election-time govt: Information Minister

He said this in an exchange meeting with journalists in the conference room of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting at the Secretariat on Monday.

When he was asked what is his opinion about the pre-election dialogue of the United States, Dr. Hasan Mahmud said, "Let's see if our friendly country can give any advice. The country is ours and it is not important what the people who own the country say to the friends. What the people of the country want is very important. Whether to accept what they suggest is entirely our prerogative."

He said, "There can never be dialogue with BNP's conditions such as Sheikh Hasina's resignation, dissolution of parliament, formation of a caretaker government."

In response to the question whether the government during the election will be the same as last time or there will be any change, he said that there is no need or obligation to form the government during the election according to the constitution. It is the prerogative of the Prime Minister. It is the prime minister's prerogative to retain the entire cabinet during the election period, or to make it smaller or larger. During the election period, the current government will perform the duties of the election government. The words that the election government will be formed or will be formed are not in accordance with the constitution. There is no obligation in the constitution to form an electoral government. It is entirely the prerogative of the Prime Minister.