Bangladesh News

The BNP has claimed that its second round dialogue with the government yesterday was a major success as the government agreed in principle on six of the party’s seven demands including lifting of the state of emergency.

“The government has almost agreed in principle on six of our seven demands,” BNP Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain told reporters at a press briefing in the presence of the advisers who led the government at the talks last night.

Commerce Adviser Hossain Zillur Rahman said, “We have differences only on the issue of holding of upazila elections. We have agreed to disagree on the issue of upazila election schedules but we will continue our discussion on it.”

Delwar said the advisers gave them assurance that it would consider their demand for lifting of the state of emergency before the upcoming parliamentary election slated for December 18.

Hossain Zillur said, “The government is not stubborn on the issue. The restriction on political campaign will be lifted soon phase by phase and the clauses of emergency rules will be addressed later.”

In its talks with the BNP and earlier with the Awami League (AL), the government also agreed in principle to ensure highest-level security measurers for both the two former prime ministers–Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia.

The government yesterday said the AL president can lead her party but did not make it clear if she can take part in the upcoming parliamentary election.

“Awami League chief Sheikh Hasina is a very important person in the political arena. Under the present political process, the issue of Sheikh Hasina’s leading [her party] is in reality without any question,” Hossain Zillur said while briefing newsmen after the government’s talks with the AL at the chief adviser’s office.

The legal matters on Hasina would be resolved soon, he added.

Acting AL General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam said, “What we have understood from today’s dialogue is that Sheikh Hasina’s release will be ensured prior to holding of the national election and she can take part in the poll and lead the Awami League as a free person.”

BNP-GOVT TALKS
At the briefing Delwar said the issue of upazila election date has to be settled through discussions. “We want the upazila polls at a reasonable gap after the national election so that no uncertainty is created over the national election,” he said.

“We are optimistic about taking part in the poll unless the government frustrates us and there is no reason not to participate in the election if the government meets our demands,” he said, adding that they are prepared both mentally and institutionally for the election but the polls should be free, fair and participated by all parties.

Delwar, who led the 13-member BNP delegation at the talks, said the government has also agreed with them on their demand for cancelling the arbitrary power of the Election Commission (EC) to cancel candidatures.

He expressed hope that the government will implement their demands without any delay as “the government’s attitude seemed positive to us”.

Asked if Khaleda and Hasina will be able to participate in the coming polls, Hossain Zillur said the law has its own course and there are no obstacles for the two leaders to leading their own parties.

“Their presence in politics has been ensured…It is already established that they will conduct their party activities and lead their parties in the election but other issues depend on legal procedures and we will get answers to those in time,” Zillur said.

On BNP’s demand for declaring May 30 and November 7 government holidays, he said it is up to the government to decide these matters. “These issues need a permanent solution and also need to be discussed between the two major parties,” he added.

The other demands of the BNP include cancelling the gazette of re-demarcation of parliamentary constituencies, ensuring a level-playing field, approving their proposals for amending the revised Representation of the People Order (RPO), withdrawal of false cases against political leaders and freeing them, and neutrality of the judiciary, the media and all government institutions.

Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed led the government side at the talks that lasted for two and a half hours from 6:30pm.

AL-GOVT TALKS
At the dialogue that lasted for about three hours, the AL placed a nine-point demand including Hasina’s unconditional release, withdrawal of the state of emergency, deferment of upazila elections, resolving the complexities centring re-demarcation of parliamentary constituencies, ensuring neutrality of the administration, preparing guidelines for the media during the polls, and bringing a few amendments to the revised RPO.

“We believe the dialogue was very much fruitful as decisions were taken on some issues and we hope that decisions on other issues discussed at the talks will come in our favour,” Syed Ashraf said, suggesting that the government hold further talks if needed to reach consensus over any issue.

“Holding of the election on December 18 has moved a step forward through today’s dialogue,” he said.

Hossain Zillur described the second round talks with political parties as getting on the “election highway” from the “side road”. He said they are confident that all political parties have got on to that highway and now moving towards the goal–the election–is what matters only.

On lifting of the state of emergency, Zillur said from now on there are no restrictions on party workers’ carrying out activities.

On upazila election, he said, “We have assured them again and again that it is possible to hold upazila elections although there could be some difficulties. We have emphasised that it will be possible to strengthen the grassroots level organisations through holding upazila elections.” Further discussion on the issue will be held, he added.

Zillur described the AL demand for making an objective guideline and code of conduct for the media as “very much timely and important”. “We have told them that there has to be coordination to ensure both freedom of speech and accountability and that the government wants to sit for dialogue on the issue with media people to find out how and under which guidelines the media can play an impartial role,” he said.

“We have also discussed the post-election scenario…How we can get a better situation after the election needs to be discussed at the national level at the moment when we are moving towards the election,” Zillur said.

Asked if the AL wants to curb freedom of the media, the acting AL general secretary said they suggested formulating guidelines to ensure freedom of the media. “Without a policy, anyone can curb freedom anytime by misusing power,” he said.

Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed led the government side at the talks that began at 2:30pm. Advisers Ghulam Quader, AF Hassan Ariff, Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury and Anwarul Iqbal were also present.

Acting AL President Zillur Rahman, Presidium members Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury, Amir Hossain Amu, Abdur Razzak, Tofail Ahmed, Suranjit Sengupta, Matia Chowdhury and acting General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam were in the AL team.