Govt to start talks with parties in May

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The government is likely to begin the much-awaited formal dialogue with the political parties in the first or second week of May.

Speaking to the media yesterday, chief adviser’s Press Secretary Syed Fahim Munaim said the agenda, format and venue of the dialogue and role of the participants will be finalised following a report on the meetings between advisers and political parties.

He said the five advisers tasked with laying the groundwork will wrap up the preparatory meetings tomorrow and submit their report to Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed the following day [Wednesday].

At a press briefing at the Chief Adviser’s Office in the evening, Fahim declined to reveal the government’s approach to the negotiations ahead.

He also did not comment when asked if the military-backed interim administration has plans to release the two former prime ministers to appease Awami League (AL) and BNP–both threatening to boycott the polls if their leaders are not freed.

“Details regarding the dialogue will be discussed after the advisers submit their report,” said Fahim, adding, “At this moment, we know nothing about pre-dialogue discussions. We will have to wait for the report to know the outcomes.”

He said the main goal of the pre-dialogue meetings as well as the dialogue is to ensure a ‘free, fair, credible and acceptable’ election by this year-end. He said the government would be open to ideas.

Meanwhile, the five–Foreign Adviser Iftekhar A Chowdhury, Law Adviser Hassan Ariff, Communication Adviser Ghulam Quader, Education Adviser Hossain Zillur Rahman and LGRD Adviser Anwarul Iqbal–met at the communications ministry yesterday.

Talking to reporters afterwards, they skirted around questions whether they would meet the pro-Khaleda BNP faction.

LGRD Adviser Anwarul Iqbal said, “We are trying to submit our report to the chief adviser by the end of April so that he can take a quick decision and announce time table for the dialogue.”

ANTI-TERRORISM ORDINANCE
At yesterday’s briefing, the CA’s press secretary said the cabinet has sent the Anti-Terrorism Ordinance, 2008 back to the ministry concerned for further vetting.

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