BNP standing committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain on Wednesday urged the government to create an enabling environment for talks, saying dialogue cannot be held keeping the top opposition leaders behind bars.
“A healthy environment is needed for talks. Don’t utter dialogue in every word to confuse people. Political discussions can’t be held keeping our top leaders in jail and killing people like birds,“ he told a protest rally.
Mosharraf apparently came up with the remarks reacting to Awami League general secretary Syed Ashraful Islam’s call to opposition to engage in dialogue shunning the path of violence.
The rally was arranged by Swadhinata Forum at Bhashani auditorium in the city’s Nayapaltan area demanding that missing BNP leader Ilias Ali be traced and arrested senior BNP leaders be released.
Earlier in the day, Ashraf said, “Problems will be solved through discussions. We hope, the opposition will play a due role in creating a proper atmosphere to hold dialogue by refraining themselves from destructive activities as talks are the only way to resolve problems.”
Criticising the AL general secretary for accusing the opposition of unleashing violence, Mosharraf said, “Don’t lecture us… we don’t create violence. The government has resorted to the path of violence by using the state machinery.”
Reiterating the opposition’s demand for restoration of the non-party caretaker government (CG), the BNP leader said his party is ready to sit for dialogue if the Prime Minister comes up with the proposal on the specific agenda on restoration of the CG.
He demanded immediate release of all the arrested leaders and activists of the opposition and withdrawal of “false cases” filed against them.
Mosharraf claimed that Ilias Ali, who went missing on this day last year, is still under the secrete custody of the government and demanded his safe return to his family.
Source: UNB Connect
