The BNP-led 18-party alliance sent a letter to ruling Awami League today for holding a dialogue on BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s formula on a polls-time government.
Acknowledging the letter, AL General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam thanked Fakhrul over phone and said he would notify Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina about it.
BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir talks with Awami League general secretary Syed Ashraful Islam over phone while addressing a press conference at the BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office in the capital Tuesday morning. Photo: SK Enamul Huq
The premier was on her way to Dinajpur to address a rally. Ashraf and several senior AL leaders are accompanying her.
On behalf of the opposition combine, a three-member delegation of BNP went to Ashraful’s Minto Road residence around 11:00am and handed over the letter signed by BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.
“We have taken a step forward. I hope you (AL leaders) will do the same,” Fakhrul told Ashraf when the latter phoned him to acknowledge receipt of the letter.
The BNP acting secretary general was addressing a press briefing at BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office at the time.
The BNP letter to ruling Awami League on Tuesday urges for holding a dialogue on BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s formula on a polls-time government. Photo: SK Enamul Huq
At the briefing, the BNP leader said, “We would be very delighted if they (AL) accept our proposal. We hope it will open new doors to dialogues.”
“All of us want to resolve the ongoing political impasse through mutual understanding.”
The initiative to send the letter came a day after Khaleda, also the chief of the 18-party alliance, proposed forming a non-partisan polls-time government headed by a respected person to be chosen by consensus between the ruling and opposition parties.
She suggested that the AL and the BNP nominate five advisers each for the 10-member advisory council from among the former advisers of the 1996 and 2001 caretaker governments.
In the letter, Fakhrul said the opposition chief Khaleda Zia placed a proposal for polls-time government ahead of parliamentary election to end the ongoing political stalemate seeking consideration of the prime minister.
He requested Ashraful to take initiative to hold talks over the proposal.
BNP lawmaker Barkatullah Bulu, a delegation member, read out the letter after coming out of the AL leader’s house.
Opposition Chief Whip Zainul Abdin Farroque led the three-member team, which also included BNP leader Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Annie.
Source: The Daily Star
