Acting general secretary of Awami League Mahbub-ul-Alam Hanif has said his party is ready to have dialogue with the opposition but a poll-time government must be on the basis of the Constitution of the country. The remark of the Awami League leader came in response to the suggestion of the members of a visiting mission of the EU following their meeting with AL leaders at Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s Dhanmondi office on Monday evening.
“They have given us some suggestions including holding of dialogue with all political parties for a free, fair and participatory election. We have told them that our party president Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina herself urged the opposition to come to the parliament and submit their proposals over a poll-time government. But the solution should be made on the basis of the Constitution” Hanif said.
“AL believes in democracy and people’s mandate and we want participation of all in the general elections. We are ready to take any step to ensure a free and fair election but that step should be taken upholding the Constitution” he said.
When asked whether the ruling Awami League would agree to hold such a dialogue outside the parliament, he said that since parliament is the centre-point of all political activities in a democratic system, in AL’s view the most preferred place for a dialogue is parliament.
But if the opposition does not come to parliament, the government would be ready to sit with them even outside the parliament too, he added.
Asked to comment on the US Secretary of State John Kerry’s initiative to send letters to both the prime minister and the leader of the opposition, Hanif said: “We came to know that the US Secretary of State sent a letter to the prime minister’s office, but we are yet to be apprised of the content. The opposition party leader told the media that Kerry has urged the two leaders to hold dialogue to resolve the present crisis. We also want dialogue but that should be held upholding the Constitution.”
Hanif told a questioner that the suggestions made by the US and EU should not be seen as interference in domestic issues. “As development partners they can make such suggestions. There is nothing wrong in it unless they try to impose something” he added.
Earlier, EU Ambassador William Hanna, who led the seven-member delegation, told reporters that the EU mission was holding discussions with the stakeholders to come to a conclusion whether it would observe the forthcoming election or not.
Stressing the need for a political dialogue, he said EU wants a transparent, inclusive, credible and participatory election and for such election the political parties of Bangladesh should have discussions among themselves.
Dialogue is the only way forward to resolve the crisis, he said adding that through dialogue with the opposition parties the government should create condition under which a well-organized election can be held.
AL leaders Mahbubul Alam Hanif, Kazi Zaffarullah, Abdur Razzak, Faruk Khan, and EU ambassador William Hanna and delegation members Balthasar Benz, Mualla Chilakri, Christina Alves, Tom Bil, Pedro Almeida and Mr Patzelt attended the meeting.
-With The Independent input
