Bangladesh News

The fourth day of the dialogue on electoral reforms between ruling BNP and main opposition Awami League (AL) yesterday reportedly reached “very close” to consensus on many points, which now need to be discussed within the two parties and their alliances for taking decisions.

But BNP Secretary General Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan and AL General Secretary Abdul Jalil did not say on which issues they have come “closer”.

At a joint press conference after their 50-minute discussion at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, the two leaders expressed hopes to reach a consensus on the disputes over the chief of the next caretaker government and other issues.

They will resume the talks on October 16 morning.

“We are trying to meet the nation’s expectation…We have come very closer on many points [of the electoral reform proposals],” Jalil, also coordinator of the 14-party opposition combine, said emerging from the meeting.

Bhuiyan also said, “The discussions have reached a stage where we need to go to our respective parties and alliances to take decision. I hope we will be successful.”

From the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban Jalil rushed to the residence of party chief Sheikh Hasina and informed her of the outcome of yesterday’s negotiation.

Sources present at the AL chief’s residence said at the beginning of yesterday’s talks Jalil wanted to know the response of the ruling BNP about his demand for appointing someone else instead of “highly political” Justice KM Hasan as the chief of the caretaker government.

Bhuiyan told Jalil that he will discuss the issue in the forum of his party and alliance. It will need time to reach a decision as some within the party and alliance hold positive views and others negative about the disputes on the reform proposals, Bhuiyan said.

Jalil said Bhuiyan again urged him to compromise on one of the two major issues–Justice Hasan and the incumbent chief election commissioner (CEC). “But I rejected and argued that there is no scope for any compromise on these two vital issues as Justice Hasan is highly political and the CEC has proved himself disqualified. A free and fair election is not possible under their supervision,” Jalil told Hasina.

In a dramatic move, Bhuiyan proposed Jalil for reconstitution of the Election Commission through removing CEC MA Aziz. “Accept this proposal first. We do not have any problem to meet your demand for removal of the chief election commissioner,” Jalil quoted Bhuiyan as telling him at the dialogue.

“But I argued that the issue of Justice KM Hasan must be resolved first,” Jalil told Hasina.

The AL-led alliance wants a solution to the disputes on October 16 when the two secretaries general sit next as Justice Hasan is supposed to be the chief of the next caretaker government following expiry of the present government’s tenure on October 27.

The 14-party opposition, which remains rigid on its stance that they neither will contest nor allow any election under Justice Hasan, is preparing to launch vigorous agitation to press home their demands.

Both Bhuiyan and Jalil told journalists at the press briefing that the discussion was held in a cordial atmosphere and that they discussed all the issues. The talks will be continued, they said.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Khaleda Zia along with her entire family will leave Dhaka for Saudi Arabia on October 14 to perform Umrah while opposition leader Sheikh Hasina is supposed to leave Dhaka tomorrow for USA to visit her son and daughter-in-law.

Jalil also leaves Dhaka for Singapore today for medical a check-up.

On the first day of the dialogue on October 5, Jalil placed the 14-party opposition’s 31-point proposal for electoral reforms to Bhuiyan asking the ruling party to resolve the issue of appointment of the chief adviser first.

The next day, both the leaders claimed that the discussion progressed a bit towards resolving several demands relating to the reform proposals.

On the third day of the dialogue on October 8, the two leaders hoped that they would be able to reach a consensus to resolve the disputes over electoral reforms.