Trackback URL
Download PDF Leaders of pro-Khaleda faction of BNP during an ‘unofficial’ talk with the government yesterday demanded release of their party Chairperson Khaleda Zia and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina before the expected formal dialogues.
They said release of the two major party chiefs is a must to make the dialogues fruitful and the upcoming election credible.
During the talk with five advisers to the caretaker government at the state guesthouse Meghna last evening, Khaleda loyalists said their faction will not join the formal dialogues with their chief in jail.
The BNP faction leaders asked the government to withdraw the state of emergency and restore democracy without further delay. They demanded a free, fair and neutral election as soon as possible.
“It would be tough to hold a meaningful election without the two top leaders, as the people don’t accept the so-called allegations brought against them,” BNP Standing Committee Member Chowdhury Tanveer Ahmed Siddique told reporters after the meeting, adding that the BNP chairperson is absolutely innocent.
Tanveer led the delegation of Khaleda loyalists to the talk.
BNP Chairperson’s Adviser Brig Gen (retd) Hannan Shah said the Election Commission (EC) made a farce of electoral reform talks by inviting only pro-Saifur faction of BNP. He claimed pro-Khaleda faction is the mainstream of BNP.
“We demanded release of our chairperson before the formal talks,” BNP Joint Secretary General Nazrul Islam Khan said at the post talk news briefing.
Yesterday’s two-hour ‘unofficial’ talk between leaders of pro-Khaleda faction of BNP and the five government advisers began at 5:15pm, marking the end of the first round.
Meanwhile, Commerce Adviser Hossain Zillur Rahman told reporters, “We started the talks emphasising three points — creating confidence, holding a meaningful election, and making decisions to bring qualitative changes in politics.”
He said they are happy as the discussions were held in congenial atmosphere and since they received good suggestions form the political leaders. During the informal talks, a ground for formal discussions was created which will help them to hold a credible election timely, he added.
He said they will report to the chief adviser tomorrow about the talks with political parties held over the last 22 days.
Commerce Adviser Hossain Zillur Rahman, Communications Adviser Maj Gen (retd) Ghulam Quader, Law Adviser AF Hassan Ariff, LGRD Adviser Anwarul Iqbal, and Foreign Adviser Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury represented the government yesterday.
Tanveer Ahmed Siddique led the 11-member pro-Khaleda BNP delegation. Other members of the delegation were BNP Standing Committee Member Dr RA Gani, Vice-presidents MK Anwar and Begum Sarwari Rahman, BNP chairperson’s advisers Brig Gen (retd) ASM Hannan Shah and Riaz Rahman, Joint Secretaries General Nazrul Islam Khan, Goyeshwar Chandra Roy and Selima Rahman, and Acting Office Secretary Rizvi Ahmed.
Earlier in the day, Commerce Adviser Hossain Zillur Rahman invited Khaleda loyalists to the talk by sending a cell phone text message to Khandaker Delwar Hossain, the faction’s executive chief also BNP secretary general appointed by its detained Chairperson Khaleda Zia.
Khaleda loyalists also demanded release of all detained political leaders including Tarique Rahman. They argued that the detained political leaders should be tried under the regular laws of the land if there are reasonable allegations against them.
They also asked the authorities to withdraw all cases filed against detained political leaders and urged the government not to interfere in the functions of the judiciary, constitutional institutions, the media, and the administration.
Urging all to uphold the spirit of the constitution, pro-Khaleda BNP leaders demanded an end of intervention by ‘certain quarters’ in political and electoral process.
They also demanded access of the media to the proposed formal dialogues between political parties and the government, and stressed the need for taking necessary measures to bring back confidence among the business community.
Comparing the present situation in the country with a ‘famine-like situation’, the leaders asked the government to introduce a rationing system for the lower income group people and allowances for the jobless.
The leaders of the BNP faction also asked the authorities to stop ‘harassing’ their leaders as such ‘harassments’ create obstacles to holding a peaceful election.
They also asked the government to disclose the steps taken by the government for the treatment of detained political leaders as well as the recommendations made by the medical boards formed for their treatment.
Earlier, the panel of government advisers held talks with Krishak Sramik Janata League and Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal.
April 29th, 2008 at 2:43 pm
These two women must be out of politics.Are there no menly people to become leaders,if not
hand over the country to Leaders who will govern the country in Sharia Law unlike Alquida.
No criminals can rule the country nor become associated with Joint talks.
Dialougue between truthful people & new honest leaders is a must.
The criminals want to be free from the cluth of law so they want to remain under the shady trees of Outstead women leaders.
Law is above all citizens.Criminals against the
inetrest of the country must face Justice!