Opposition BNP and two left-leaning parties –Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) and Bangladesher Samajtanrik Dal (BSD) — on Wednesday underscored the need for finding a realistic and acceptable solution to ensure the participation of all political parties in the next polls.
“At the meeting with us (BNP), CPB and BSD expressed their concern over the present political situation. The two parties think that the election needs to be held with the participation of all political parties. So, an acceptable way should be worked out to solve the present crisis by holding talks with all political parties,” said BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.
He was talking to reporters at a press briefing after a meeting between BNP chief Khaleda Zia and CPB and BSD leaders.
The meeting started at 7.45 pm and continued for almost one and half hours at BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office in the city.
The two left parties joined the meeting with a 14-member delegation led by CPB president Mujahidul Islam Selim and BSD general secretary Khalequzzaman.
Addressing the press briefing, CPB president Mujahidul Islam Selim said in the meeting they urged the main opposition BNP to sever ties with Jamaat-e-Islami in the interest of the country and urged Awami League to reach a compromise over the caretaker government issue.
Terming the meeting a fruitful one, Selim said they held the meeting as part of their ongoing efforts to have parleys with political parties over the country’s present situation.
“The election must be held with the participation of all parties…. one-sided polls will deepen the country’s crisis. If 1/11-like situation recurs, it will not benefit the country. I’ll only endanger the country’s democracy,” Selim observed.
Mentioning that a dialogue has to be held in a cordial atmosphere, Selim said all have to come forward in this regard shunning the ‘ego problem’ and protocol.
Observing that the two forces are active in the country, the left leftist leader said one force wants a solution to the present situation and against it as it wants the emergence of a different environment.
“In the present context, all will have to behave responsibly…we must reach an acceptable solution through discussions,” Selim said.
He said it is needed to save the country as anti-liberation forces as well as the militants are hatching conspiracies against the state. “BNP and Awami League forge entente with anti-liberation forces and autocrats to suppress each other. We need to come out of this,” Selim added.
Selim also alleged that BNP and Awami League both ulitlised Jamaat in their own interest.
He also emphasized forging a unity of the all pro-liberation forces with a view to strengthening democracy.
BSD general secretary Khalequzzaman said dialogue has to be held among all political parties. “If it remains confined in Awami League and BNP, the political crisis will not be solved.”
In reply to a query whether CPB will take part in the polls if BNP boycotts it, Selim said, “We can’t anything for sure…We’ll take the decision considering the situation. But we want the polls to be held with the participation of all.”
On BNP’s reaction to sever ties with Jamaat, Selim said they did not get any satisfactory reply in this regard.
BNP leaders Moyeen Khan, Nazrul Islam Khan, Shamsher Mobin Chowdhury and Osman Faruk, CPB leaders Mujahidul Islam Selim, Monjurul Ahsan Bulbul, Syed Abu Jafar Ahmed, Haider Akbar Khan Rono and BSD leaders Khalequzzaman, Bazlur Rashid Feroz, among others, took part in the meeting.
Source: UNB Connect
