BNP for written proposal on talks

Admin — Sat, 04 May 2013 04:20:32 +0000

The BNP says it will agree to negotiate if the government proposes a dialogue in writing and agree to restore the caretaker system to conduct parliament polls. Party chief Khaleda Zia’s adviser Shamsuzzaman Dudu responded on Thursday to Prime Minister’s offer for talks to Opposition Leader Khaleda Zia. “We’d like to request the prime minister to clarify the agenda for the dialogue and then give us a formal proposal for talks,” he said in an immediate reaction. “We will respond if [the government] gives a written proposal announcing that the next national election will be held under a non-partisan body,” Dudu added. The Awami League has been looking for talks to end the current political impasse but its leaders have steadfastly opposed any dialogue with conditions. The Prime Minister has also ruled out a return to the caretaker system, saying it was abrogated because it was flawed. She has said all mature democracies hold elections under an independent Election Commission and that Bangladesh now had one in place. Earlier in the day, Sheikh Hasina had urged the BNP chief to sit for talks. She, however, hinted the government would not step back from its position on the caretaker government issue.
The BNP and its like-minded parties have been on the streets ever since the current government annulled the caretaker government provision through the 15th Amendment in 2011. They claim an election under a partisan body would not be free and fair.
However, the ruling party alleges the opposition is trying to disrupt the ongoing war crimes trials where several top leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami and two of the BNP face trials for crimes perpetrated during the 1971 Liberation War.
Various quarters, including business leaders and civil rights bodies, are pushing for talks between the Awami League and BNP to end the political impasse which is adversely impacting on the economy.
Even a petition has been filed in the High Court seeking to force the two top ladies of Bangladesh politics to negotiate an end to the ‘political impasse’.
BNP leader Dudu urged the Prime Minister to release the party’s top leaders from jail to “create a congenial atmosphere for talks”.

-With The Independent input

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Eminent citizens welcome dilaogue move

Admin — Sat, 04 May 2013 04:14:00 +0000

Dhaka, May 3: Eminent citizens welcomed the government call to the opposition for dialogue to resolve the ongoing political impasse and emphasized that dialogue was the only solution to groom the democratic process in the country. Eminent jurist Barrister Rafique-ul Huq welcomed and thanked the prime minister Sheikh Hasina to invite the opposition leader Khaleda Zia for dialogue to resolve the current political stalemate. “The Opposition should have accepted the invitation of the prime minister without tagging any conditions. I would tell BNP to go and meet,” he said. “All the problems should be resolved through dialogue to avoid any kind of confrontation. The opposition should sit for the dialogue considering the welfare of the state and the people,” he added.
Dr Md Iftekharuzzaman, executive director of Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) described the call of the prime minister for dialogue is a positive sign to break the political impasse.
“PM made an open call. So the opposition also should respond her with an open mind,” he said.
“Both parties should avoid their rigid stance and go to the talks. The discussion should be taken place with positive attitudes and constructive one. Otherwise, if it fails, they will face the negative impact greatly,” he observed. He hopes that both the ruling Awami League and the opposition would come forward to make the dialogue a success.
Sujan General Secretary Badiul Alam Mojumder welcomed the gesture of the prime minister for dialogue.
“If both parties cannot find out a solution and the elections do not take place in time with the participation of all political parties, we will be in deep troubles,” he said.
Unless the settlement of some differences between the two parties-government and opposition, a credible election would not be possible, he added.
“Both parties should create a congenial atmosphere for the election and the govt should release the detained political leaders and the government should stop arrest of opposition. On the other hand the opposition should refrain from the destructive form of politics,” he suggested.

-With The Independent input

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dialogue move - Dhaka Mirror

BNP for written proposal on talks

Eminent citizens welcome dilaogue move