Bangladesh News

Newly appointed Food and Health Adviser MM Shawkat Ali yesterday made a phone call to Awami League (AL) Presidium Member Motia Chowdhury to know about AL’s stance on the proposed talks between the government and the political parties.

“He wanted to know from me about our stance and thinking about political dialogue,” Motia told the news agency in the evening.

She told the adviser that she would let him know after consulting it with acting AL President Zillur Rahman as well as the party forum.

When contacted, leaders of both factions of BNP (Delwar and Haifz) and Jamaat-e-Islami said they were not yet communicated from the government until 8:00pm.

Jamaat Ameer Motiur Rahman Nizami said they are not against dialogue but his party would take decision after receiving invitation letters and knowing the agenda of such dialogue.

Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed in his nationwide address on January 12 disclosed his government’s intention to take necessary steps soon to hold dialogue with parties.

On January 11, the Council of Advisers took a decision on the proposed talks, apparently meant for breaking the standoff between the caretaker government and politicians.

Foreign Affairs Adviser Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhruy yesterday told journalists that government-political party dialogue would open a new chapter in the country’s present political situation.

Awami League and other parties have been demanding that the government sit with them to resolve political issues that cannot be ironed out in the court of law or at the Election Commission.

Sources in the caretaker government said once the agenda of dialogue is finalised with parties, the government would formally sit with them.