Bangladesh News

Islami Okyo Jote (IOJ), a component of BNP-led four-party alliance, will join the dialogue with the caretaker government despite BNP’s decision not to participate in it without party Chairperson Khaleda Zia.

IOJ Chairman and former lawmaker Fazlul Haque Aminee said last night, “We have already informed alliance leaders that we will take part in dialogue with the government.”

The government has invited them to take part in the dialogue on June 10, he told The Daily Star

Jamaat-e-Islami, a major partner in the alliance, is yet to finalise its decision in this regard although party leaders had earlier said dialogue will not be fruitful without participation of the top leaders of three major parties — BNP, Awami League and Jamaat.

Moreover, IOJ leaders plan to propose holding national election by November this year.

Meanwhile, detained top leader of the four-party Khaleda Zia, during her first appearance before court on Sunday demanded national election by October.

Earlier, BNP Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain took an initiative steps to make the alliances active as part of preparations for a movement to restore democracy in the country.

Following this, alliance leaders met on May 22 at Delwar’s residence and prepared a 14-point charter of demand that include release of Khaleda, withdrawal of all cases against her and ensuring her participation in the dialogue.

Later, the BNP secretary general announced that his party would not take part in dialogue without its chairperson as it (dialogue) would not be meaningful without her.

“It would be better for all of us if the four-party alliance takes up a common stand on all important issues like participation in dialogue,” a senior BNP leader said. He however declined to comment on IOJ’s decision to join the dialogue.

Sources in the BNP said Khaleda Zia recently asked Delwar to unite nationalist forces, and his initiative in this regard followed this.