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Download PDF The ruling BNP and main opposition Awami League (AL) are at loggerheads over a ‘formal proposal’ for a secretary level dialogue between the rival parties on the political impasse centring reforms in the system of caretaker government and the Election Commission (EC).
Questioning the sincerity of the prime minister’s offer of a dialogue, top opposition leaders yesterday said they will consider it only after getting a written proposal while the ruling party leaders declined to send any written offer.
Under the circumstances, Prime Minister Khaleda Zia yesterday apparently returned to her previous hard line and declared that the next election will be held on time, no matter whether the main opposition coalition contests in it or not.
“We have made an offer of a dialogue, but it does not mean that we are afraid of your (opposition’s) so-called movement,” Khaleda said.
On the other hand, senior opposition leaders are also sticking to their stance saying they will continue street agitation even if there is a dialogue.
“We will not leave the street even if there is a dialogue. The movement on the street will continue until the demand for reforms is realised,” 14-party Coordinator also Awami League (AL) General Secretary Abdul Jalil said yesterday at a preparatory meeting ahead of tomorrow’s opposition grand rally in the capital.
“Where is the formal proposal?” Jalil asked when replying a question about the prime minister’s fresh call for a dialogue between the secretary general of BNP and the general secretary of AL.
Although the ruling BNP leaders stressed the urgency of settling the impasse at the discussion table, they said they will not take any formal initiative to sit with the opposition following the prime minister’s latest proposal.
“The prime minister’s offer of a dialogue itself is formal. Is any formal or written proposal necessary when the prime minister herself made the offer publicly?” Harris Chowdhury, political secretary to the prime minister told journalists on Friday.
On Thursday, at a public rally in Banchharampur Khaleda proposed a secretary-level dialogue between her party and the main opposition on the opposition’s demand for reforms in the system of caretaker government and the Election Commission.
BNP Secretary General also LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan was admitted to a hospital with chest pain on the same day and he is likely to fly to Singapore for better treatment.
Political analysts predict that the possibility of starting the much desired dialogue might be delayed if the BNP secretary general remains in a hospital for more days.
Meanwhile, the opposition camp is now busy with the preparation to gather ‘a million people’ in the grand rally tomorrow at Paltan Maidan from where the coalition will announce its final round of agitation programmes to realise the reform agenda.
AL will hold a meeting of its central working committee (ALCWC) today with its chief Sheikh Hasina in the chair. The 6:00pm meeting will discuss the party’s strategy ahead of tomorrow’s grand rally.
After the ALCWC meeting, its leaders will meet their 14-party coalition partners at 8:00pm.
Sources said the opposition leaders will finalise their agitation programmes that will be announced from the Paltan rally tomorrow.
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