The BNP has agreed to hold talks over the polls-time dispensation, hinting its willingness to make concession over its ‘non-party’ election-time government demand.
BNP acting Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Saturday said his party has no dearth of sincerity to hold talks with the government.
“The talks should be held only on the issue of a poll-time dispensation and nothing else,” he said without uttering ‘non-party’ in his speech.
His remark assumes significance as it comes amid the uncertainty over the dialogue with ruling Awami League over the polls-time government.
The main opposition had been saying it would not dilute its ‘non-party’ caretaker government stance.
BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia had called for accepting the ‘non-party’ caretaker demand in a telephonic conversation with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, President of the ruling Awami League.
In the latest instance, the Opposition Leader asserted, at a discussion at National Press Club, that her party would not make any compromise over the non-party caretaker government.
The present government had in June, 2011 scrapped the caretaker provision from the Constitution, which means it will fill in the caretaker role in the next general election.
The Awami League has been insisting on holding the next election as per the Constitution.
Amid the calls for compromise by the United Nations and various quarters, Hasina had in October called up Khaleda and proposed an all-party polls-time government.
She also urged the Leader of the Opposition to be a part of that government.
Ahead of a few months to the next elections, the Awami League leaders are seeing such a proposal by the Prime Minister as an opportunity for the Opposition.
Despite no obligation, they claim, they are offering such an opportunity to the Opposition.
After getting the Prime Minister’s offer for an election-time government, Khaleda had made a counter offer of an government comprising advisors from the two former caretaker Cabinets.
The Party had even written to the ruling party asking them to initiate a dialogue between two major parties.
And the Opposition Leader urged the Prime Minister to accept her proposal when the latter phoned the former.
But no progress has been made for a dialogue as neither the government nor the Opposition came up with talks offer.
The BNP-led 18-Party alliance started enforcing shutdowns.
On Friday, Fakhrul said he called up Awami League General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam but he could not reach him. He also blamed the ruling party for no dialogue between two major parties.
However, Ashraf later on Friday night said he did not get any call from Fakrul.
Before the conversation between two leading ladies, Ashraful had on Oct 22 called up Fakhrul after receiving a letter from him. They had a brief talk.
Over Fakhrul’s reaction to Ashraf’s telephone call, the latter questioned the Opposition’s sincerity in holding talks.
Ashraf said, “His leader Khaleda Zia on Thursday said there was no chance left for talks. He must talk to his leader first.”
“If she says there is still scope for discussions, then the talks can take place.”
Fakhrul at the discussion on Saturday said, “I am saying this with the consent of Opposition Leader Khaleda Zia that we want to have talks with the government in a bid to solve the crisis.”
“I want the government not to waste any more time and take immediate steps to start a dialogue rather than creating confusion among the people.”
Questioning the government’s sincerity in holding talks, the BNP spokesperson said, “The Prime Minister had not responded to the Opposition Leader’s eagerness for dialogue after Oct 29.”
“It means the government is not sincere in holding talks.”
He again said, “I had sent a letter to Syed Ashraf, but he has not given any reply. Later, I tried to contact him on my own accord but could not reach him.”
Fakhrul also blamed the government for no success of FBCCI leadership’s efforts to broker a dialogue between two major parties.
At the top businesses’ initiatives, BNP agrees to the secretary general-level talks but the Awami League leaders say if the talks are held, it must be at the highest level.
The BNP Secretary General also said the government was vitiating the environment for dialogue by unleashing oppression and repression on the opposition party.
Source: bdnews24
