DHAKA, June 29 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina announced Thursday she would give up her office on July 15th and handover her charge to the chief of the interim caretaker government in order to hold upcoming general elections.
Hasina's government completed its full five years in office on June 23rd. It was the first time that an elected government has completed its full term in Bangladesh history.
"I have given the formula of the caretaker government... I wish we would make it a remarkable day [July 15] through a colorful celebration," BSS, the national news agency quoted her as saying.
She said she would advise President Justice Shahabuddin Ahmed on July 9th to form the interim government as per strictures of the constitution.
Latifur Rahman, former chief justice, is expected to be the chief of the interim government comprising 10 advisers to be nominated by him. General elections are likely to be held in October of this year.
The Bangladeshi parliament's five year term expires on July 13th, but as Friday and Saturday are holidays, the Prime Minister will handover power on Sunday.
Hasina's decision came even as the BNP (Bangladesh National Party) led opposition was planning for a "Dhaka March" on July 9th. They had also announced that they would observe July 13th as a "celebration day" for the fall of the government. The opposition has been demanding for the government to resign for over two years.
This will be the first time in Bangladesh's history that a government will be handing over power in a constitutional manner after the completion of its five-year term. Before, all prior governments had either been taken over by military coups or forced out of office by mass protests.
Ironically on Wednesday, the non-governmental organization, Transparency International (TI) named Bangladesh as the most corrupt nation in its yearly corruption perceptions index.
The TI Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) is a subjective reading, compiled from the opinions of public officials and politicians. Bangladesh earned the "most corrupt" status for scoring only 0.4 points. Finland, the least corrupt nation received 9.9 points.
The Bangladeshi government rejected the report saying the charge had no "scientific basis".
A government spokesman in Dhaka said, "We reject this report as the study has not made it clear on what scientific basis it carried out its poll. The report was also unclear on what basis Bangladesh's image has been maligned."
