‘Oikyafront open to talks if fresh polls on cards’

The Opposition alliance Jatiya Oikyafront, of which the BNP is a major partner, will welcome any move to hold a fresh dialogue with the ruling Awami League (AL) chief and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina if she takes the initiative to resolve the current political impasse and hold fresh elections, as demanded by it. Talking to The Independent, the alliance leaders, however, said they do not see any necessity to join any dialogue merely to exchange pleasantries. They termed the just-concluded December 30 parliamentary elections the worst-ever, saying that the government should take the initiative to come out from the impasse by holding talks. The comments by the alliance leaders came hours after the general secretary of the ruling AL, Obaidul Quader, said at a party meeting that the Premier would soon invite the political leaders for a fresh dialogue.

“The Prime Minister will once again hold talks with the political parties that were invited for dialogue before the 11th general elections,” he said, while talking to reporters before a joint meeting at the AL office on Bangabandhu Avenue in Dhaka yesterday (Sunday).

The Jatiya Oikyafront had rejected the 11th parliamentary elections, alleging that the elections have been engineered in connivance with the Election Commission, the administration and the law enforcement agencies.

The ruling AL-led Grand Alliance secured 288 seats out of 299 parliamentary constituencies and formed the government. The BNP-led Oikyafront and the 20-Party Alliance picked up only eight seats and stayed away from the swearing-in ceremony for Members of Parliament (MPs). BNP standing committee member Lt. Gen. (retd) Mahbubur Rahman said they would welcome any dialogue in a bid to resolve the crisis arising through the elections, which he termed “questionable”.

“The BNP will not close the door on any dialogue. Rather, we will welcome any initiative to resolve the crisis through dialogue,” he said.

The former army chief, who refrained from taking part in the elections, said, “The election has been questioned and the BNP has many points to raise. So, we will welcome any initiative to come out from it.”

“No-one should be undermined. All should come forward to resolve the prevailing crisis through talks,” he observed.

Another standing committee member, however, declined to comment on the government move for a fresh dialogue. “Let me see first what the ruling party wants to do before I pass any comment,” he added.

BNP vice-chairman Shamsuzzaman Dudu also said they would welcome any dialogue if it is held to discuss the way for holding fresh elections. “We also want a dialogue but it should be aimed at holding a fresh election,” he said.

Terming the just-concluded national elections the worst-ever in the country’s history, he said the nation has rejected the polls and the government can take the initiative to hold a dialogue for fresh elections.

He, however, said they would not accept any dialogue for merely exchanging pleasantries as he said there should be an agenda to come out of the “questionable election”.

Ganoforum general secretary Mostafa Mohsin Montu questioned the move to hold a fresh dialogue by the Prime Minister, saying: “Let us receive the letter first.”

“Let us receive the invitation letter first. Let us see who is sending the letter and the ground of the dialogue. Then we will take our decision in consultation at the party and alliance forums,” he said. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina held a series of dialogue with some 75 political leaders inside and outside the umbrella of Jatiya Oikyafront and Juktafront before the December 30 parliamentary elections.

The Jatiya Oikyafront decided to take part in the elections after the announcement of the poll schedule even though its seven-point charter of demands was not met. The Oikyafront leaders then said they took the decision as part of its movement, despite the adverse situation.

Oikyafront open to talks if fresh polls on cards

The Opposition alliance Jatiya Oikyafront, of which the BNP is a major partner, will welcome any move to hold a fresh dialogue with the ruling Awami League (AL) chief and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina if she takes the initiative to resolve the current political impasse and hold fresh elections, as demanded by it. Talking to The Independent, the alliance leaders, however, said they do not see any necessity to join any dialogue merely to exchange pleasantries. They termed the just-concluded December 30 parliamentary elections the worst-ever, saying that the government should take the initiative to come out from the impasse by holding talks. The comments by the alliance leaders came hours after the general secretary of the ruling AL, Obaidul Quader, said at a party meeting that the Premier would soon invite the political leaders for a fresh dialogue. The Prime Minister will once again hold talks with the political parties that were invited for dialogue before the 11th general elections, he said, while talking to reporters before a joint meeting at the AL office on Bangabandhu Avenue in Dhaka yesterday (Sunday). The Jatiya Oikyafront had rejected the 11th parliamentary elections, alleging that the elections have been engineered in connivance with the Election Commission, the administration and the law enforcement agencies. The ruling AL-led Grand Alliance secured 288 seats out of 299 parliamentary constituencies and formed the government. The BNP-led Oikyafront and the 20-Party Alliance picked up only eight seats and stayed away from the swearing-in ceremony for Members of Parliament (MPs). BNP standing committee member Lt. Gen. (retd) Mahbubur Rahman said they would welcome any dialogue in a bid to resolve the crisis arising through the elections, which he termed questionable. The BNP will not close the door on any dialogue. Rather, we will welcome any initiative to resolve the crisis through dialogue, he said. The former army chief, who refrained from taking part in the elections, said, The election has been questioned and the BNP has many points to raise. So, we will welcome any initiative to come out from it. No-one should be undermined. All should come forward to resolve the prevailing crisis through talks, he observed. Another standing committee member, however, declined to comment on the government move for a fresh dialogue. Let me see first what the ruling party wants to do before I pass any comment, he added. BNP vice-chairman Shamsuzzaman Dudu also said they would welcome any dialogue if it is held to discuss the way for holding fresh elections. We also want a dialogue but it should be aimed at holding a fresh election, he said. Terming the just-concluded national elections the worst-ever in the countrys history, he said the nation has rejected the polls and the government can take the initiative to hold a dialogue for fresh elections. He, however, said they would not accept any dialogue for merely exchanging pleasantries as he said there should be an agenda to come out of the questionable election. Ganoforum general secretary Mostafa Mohsin Montu questioned the move to hold a fresh dialogue by the Prime Minister, saying: Let us receive the letter first. Let us receive the invitation letter first. Let us see who is sending the letter and the ground of the dialogue. Then we will take our decision in consultation at the party and alliance forums, he said. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina held a series of dialogue with some 75 political leaders inside and outside the umbrella of Jatiya Oikyafront and Juktafront before the December 30 parliamentary elections. The Jatiya Oikyafront decided to take part in the elections after the announcement of the poll schedule even though its seven-point charter of demands was not met. The Oikyafront leaders then said they took the decision as part of its movement, despite the adverse situation.