Advisers agree to talk with political parties

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The council of advisers at a special meeting yesterday agreed to open dialogues with the political parties to discuss the overall situation to ensure holding of a free and fair election.

But the meeting chaired by Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed did not fix any timetable or agenda for the talks the political parties have been demanding to resolve the present political crisis.

The major political parties welcomed the move and asked the caretaker government to immediately announce the date for the dialogue.

Sources said a number of advisers at the meeting raised the issue of opening a dialogue with the political parties to gain their trust while other advisers supported them.

The first meeting since the inclusion of five new advisers last Wednesday also discussed how more political activities can be allowed, the sources added.

Talking to reporters after the meeting, newly appointed Adviser Maj Gen (retd) Ghulam Mohammad Quader described the demand for holding talks with the political parties as “valid” and “logical”.

“The government will definitely hold dialogues with the political parties today or tomorrow,” Quader said.

Adviser AMM Shawkat Ali, who was also appointed Wednesday, said it is a must to hold dialogues with the political parties to resolve the present political crisis.

Asked about the timetable for the talks, newly appointed Adviser Rasheda K Choudhury said the talks might take place after the Election Commission (EC) completes its electoral reform talks with the political parties.

When her attention was drawn to the EC plan to complete the talks by mid-February, Rasheda said the government may then begin the talks after that time.

This is the first time in exactly one year since the declaration of the state of emergency that the council of advisers has underscored the need for opening talks with the political parties.

Political analysts observed that the chief adviser brought major changes to his cabinet on the eve of completing one year of the interim rule to give an impression of initiating new measures to improve the overall situation.

Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed is likely to address the nation tomorrow, on the day he assumed the office of chief adviser last year, outlining the new measures to make the administration dynamic for holding the stalled parliamentary polls according to the electoral roadmap, sources said.

In his introductory speech at yesterday’s meeting, Fakhruddin described the current situation and challenges and apprised the advisers of the appointment of especial assistants, sources said.

At one stage newly appointed Adviser Shawkat Ali raised the issue of holding dialogues with the political parties. “I think time has come to hold dialogues with the political parties to gain their trust,” a meeting source said quoting him.

Shawkat said the previous caretaker governments also held dialogues with the parties at the beginning of their tenures.

Echoing Shawkat’s view, other advisers underscored the need for holding talks with the political parties.

Talking to reporters after the meeting, the new advisers however disagreed with the demand for holding the election in between June and July and immediate withdrawal of the state of emergency.

“The government will withdraw the state of emergency when the time comes,” Adviser Quader said.

The advisers said the first challenge of the caretaker government is to hold a free, fair and acceptable parliamentary election by December 2008 as per the electoral roadmap.

“It is my duty to move forward the work of legal and infrastructural reforms for holding a free and fair election,” Adviser AF Hassan Ariff, who was given the charge of the law ministry, said.

STATE OF POLITICS AND PARTIES
Amidst the growing political crisis over parliamentary polls, President Iajuddin Ahmed on January 11 resigned from the office of the chief adviser along with other advisers and declared the state of emergency suspending all sorts of outdoor political activities. On March 7, the government banned indoor politics too.

Then the issue of reforms within the parties surfaced and top leaders of Awami League (AL) and BNP became divided over the matter. The BNP was split in the absence of party Chairperson Khaleda Zia, who was detained on September 3. The AL remained united, but it faced rifts within the party regarding running it in the absence of party chief Sheikh Hasina who was detained on July 16.

A number of advisers, particularly Mainul Hosein who resigned on Tuesday, launched broadsides at political leaderships labelling them as corrupt. They also outright rejected the demand for holding talks with the parties.

On repeated requests of the EC, the caretaker government finally allowed indoor politics in the capital on September 10 so that the EC can hold talks with political parties on electoral reforms. The EC talks began on September 12 and some political parties, including the AL, urged the caretaker government to open dialogue with political parties over political reforms.

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