Bangladesh News

The pro-Khaleda faction of BNP will not participate in dialogue with the government or in the upcoming election without the consent of detained party chairperson Khaleda Zia.

“BNP will not attend any type of dialogue with the government without the approval of the chairperson,” said Khandaker Delwar Hossain, the Khaleda-appointed secretary general of the party, during a teleconference with News World, a New York based news agency.

The teleconference was organised on Monday by Khaleda Zia Antorjatik Mukti Andolan (international movement to free Khaleda Zia) and moderated by Abul Hashem Bulbul, according to News World.

Delwar’s comment came at a time when chief adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed, during his Saturday’s address to the nation on the occasion of the first anniversary of the caretaker government, said his administration would soon move to initiate dialogues with political parties of the country in line with a decision taken by the council of advisers.

When asked about Delwar’s teleconference, Rizvi Ahmed, acting secretary general of BNP, told The Daily Star, “He [Delwar] replied to a few questions from journalists while inaugurating the website of Khaleda Zia Antorjatik Mukti Andolan.”

The chairperson’s presence is a must for a fruitful dialogue with the government, Rizvi said echoing Delwar’s comment.

When Delwar was asked during the teleconference to evaluate the activities of President Iajuddin Ahmed, he said he [the president] had imposed the state of emergency as conspiracies were going on at the time to cripple the country.

At that time, “he [the president] was compelled to bow down to pressure and failed to take a firm stance as he is a non-political person,” Delwar said. To make his point, Delwar mentioned the success of former political president Abdur Rahman Biswas in foiling a military coup.

“The government is talking about dialogue, but we want to know the objective and agenda of the dialogue,” he said alleging, “The government is trying to create division in BNP. … All kinds of conspiracies are going on so BNP cannot participate in the election.”

Asked whether they would participate in the election with Khaleda Zia in jail, Delwar said only the chairperson can take the decision in this regard, but they did not get the permission to visit her.

The pro-Khaleda secretary general of BNP said they were ready to accept any party in power through a truly free and fair election.

He also said justice cannot be served with the emergency power rules enforced and nobody will accept the verdicts of the types of trial that are being conducted now.

Responding to another query, Delwar said the country is passing a transitional period and only an elected government can overcome the existing problems of the country.

Blasting Saifur Rahman for his recent activities, Delwar said he [Saifur] has done everything, including appointing a secretary general through an illegal meeting, to make certain quarter happy.