In a dramatic turn of events, the country’s two top leaders — Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Opposition Leader Khaleda Zia — talked to each other over phone for quite a long time on Saturday over the long-drawn political crisis, yet the solution remains a far cry as Khaleda apparently rejected the premier’s offer.
Sheikh Hasina made the much-awaited phone call to her arch rival Khaleda Zia around 6:20 pm over cellphone requesting her to withdraw their three-day hartal and meet her at Ganobhaban over dinner on Monday for talks over the pressing issue of election-time cabinet.
The excitement of people over the much-sought dialogue initiative was short-lived as BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia apparently turned down PM’s offer to have a dialogue over the current political crisis saying she is ready to talk only after October 29 evening.
When the premier, during the 37-minute conversation, asked her to withdraw the hartal, Khaleda said the hartal programme will remain unchanged as it is quite impossible for her to meet with the 18-party leaders at this moment.
The Prime Minister made the phone call to the opposition leader over the cellphone of a personal staff of Khaleda Zia as her red phone in her Gulshan residence is out of order.
About the inoperative red phone of the opposition leader, the Prime Minister said she would enquire about the matter tomorrow. “I myself made the phone call to you. I repeatedly called you. But you somehow couldn’t attend the call. I’m sorry. I’ll look into it tomorrow.”
The Prime Minister went on: “I don’t know whether the phone was dead or made dead. I’ll enquire about it tomorrow.”
Turning to her invitation to Khaleda to Ganobhaban, Hasina said. “I want you to have dinner with me on Monday and you can bring as many guests as you wish.”
Hasina, however, requested Khaleda Zia to give her a list of how many members will attend the dinner.
Khaleda, however, assured Hasina she would give up all movements and agitation programmes and will sit for dialogue if the Prime Minister accepts in principle the demand for holding the next general election under a nonpartisan government.
About the PM’s request to withdraw three-day hartal, Khaleda Zia told Hasina, “It’s not possible right now…It’s a scheduled programme. I’ve taken the decision after consultation with the alliance leaders. Had you (Hasina) indicated it yesterday (Friday), we could have taken a decision in this regard. Besides, police have resorted to oppression on leaders and activists on the eve of hartal.”
When Sheikh Hasina recalled past events, the BNP chief said, “Please give up thinking backward. We want to go forward through a new type of politics. If you (Hasina) blame the opposition looking at the past, the atmosphere of the discussion would be marred and we wouldn’t able to march forward.”
Khaleda also urged the Prime Minister to work together to reach an acceptable solution through discussions. “We also had worked in the past. We would be able to reflect the nation’s hope if we shun political bitterness,” he said.
About the premier’s version that she (Hasina) repeatedly tried to reach Khaleda over red phone, the opposition leader said, “It was a dead one. If you’re sincere to contact me, you could have reached me through any other means at this modern age.
However, civil society representatives are still hopeful that the BNP Chairperson will reconsider the PM’s invitation and accept it for reaching a solution through discussion.
Executive Director of Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) Prof Iftekharuzzaman said the telephonic conversation between two top leaders has opened up a ‘bright and big chance’ for an amicable solution, and there will be nothing left except uncertainty if this chance is squandered.
“It’s a big and bright chance indeed. It’s apparently the last chance. If the invitation (PM’s) is finally rejected by the opposition, I see no good for the nation and democracy ahead,” Prof Zaman told UNB over phone.
He said the decision of the BNP chairperson not to accept Monday’s invitation requires reconsideration if she finally rejects the Prime Minister’s offer. “A decision should be taken considering the national interest.”
Terming the telephonic conversation between two top leaders historic, Sushashoner Jonno Nagorik (Sujan) secretary Dr Badiul Alam Majumder said it will be ‘unfortunate’ if BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia does not accept the invitation.
“It won’t be a right decision. If she doesn’t accept the invitation, it’ll be unfortunate. I hope, all will show their goodwill,” Majumder told UNB over phone.
He said political problems should be resolved through democratic process — discussions with all, exchange of opinion and compromise.
Majumder also said it will be very difficult to protect democracy if the door for discussion is closed.
Responding to a question, he said it is a historic event that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia talked to each other over phone for nearly 40 minutes. “I hope they’ll take further steps through discussions.”
Advisers to the Prime Minister HT Imam, Dr Syed Modasser Ali and Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, Awami League advisory council members Tafail Ahmed, Amir Hossain Amu and party general secretary Syed Ashraful Islam were present during the phone call.
Later, Awami League general secretary Syed Ashraful Islam briefed reports and said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina talked to opposition leader Khaleda Zia on her own initiative and invited her to dinner to discuss any issue.
“We’re hopeful that the current political situation would come up in the discussion,” Ashraf said.
The Awami League spokesperson said Khaleda Zia had issued a 48-hour ultimatum for a government initiative to launch dialogue. “As the Prime Minister has invited the opposition leader to a dialogue, the hartal programme now stands pointless.”
Asked whether the BNP or the 18-party alliance was invited to the dialogue, the AL secretary general said the Prime Minister invited the opposition leader.
Insisted whether Jamaa-e-Islami, a key ally of the 18-party alliance, was invited to the dinner, Syed Ashraf said: “Jamaat has not been invited.”
PM’s media adviser Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury also briefed the journalists and said the Prime Minister has expressed deep shock and concern as BNP rejected her offer for dialogue.
Source: UNBConnect
