Dialogue dogma reemerged in the air 2014-06-22 19:07:03 Dialogue dogma reemerged in the air Tareq Salman and Amanullah Aman, thereport24, Dhaka: The much-awaited dialogue between the ruling Awami League-led government and the main opposition BNP, which many believe will draw an end to the existing political crisis, has once again emerged in discussion in the political arena. The dialogue was supposed to be held before the January 5 parliamentary polls as both the BNP and the Awami League were very much interested and took their strategic stance on the issue though both the parties played dubious role making the behind the curtain moves futile. Although BNP was eager to sit for the talks, AL leaders were very reluctant as it was plotting something else for clinging to power. So both the parties set preconditions even before sitting for the talks to reach a consensus for holding a participatory talks. Finally, the dialogue could not be held in the end and the AL held a lopsided election for clinging to power sideling BNP and BNP boycotted it as it was a framed game, said analysts. The BNP demanded an election under a non-partisan and neutral caretaker administration but the AL held it under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina citing constitutional obligations and utilized it as per AL plot for making it as tool for clinging to power, added analysts. After six months of tenth general elections, BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia once again brought forward the issue of dialogue at a meeting with a delegation of European Union and German diplomats at her Gulshan office recently. Even on Sunday’s public meeting in Joypurhat, BNP chairperson once again made it clear that BNP favours dialogue for resolving the stalemate and the AL-led government would have to talk with BNP as it is a largest opposition political party. She said she would like to have discussion to draw an end to the political crisis and she would not object if the ruling party wanted an acceptable dialogue as the global leaders are even pressing the AL-led government for the dialogue resulting in a participatory polls. Khaleda’s pro-dialogue remarks sparked comments by AL leaders and ministers, with some of them saying they want discussion while others said there would be no discussion until 2019, the year the tenure of the incumbent AL-led government would expire. Communications Minister Obaidul Quader said: “Why the BNP wants to discuss with a government which it described as illegal?” Ruling out the possibility of dialogue, AL publicity and publications secretary Dr Hasan Mahmud said his party wanted discussion before the January 5 polls but not now. “Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina invited Khaleda to a dinner at Ganobhaban but the BNP chairperson neglected it at the time and also issued a 48-hour ultimatum. Now she says she wants discussion but we want to say it clearly that the next election would be held according to the constitution,” he said. AL joint general secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif said the situation was not appropriate for holding talks with the BNP but his party was always in favour of resolving disputes through discussion. AL advisory council member Suranjit Sengupta said his party always believed in talks. “There is no reason why there would be no dialogue if we receive a specific proposal,” he said. Lambasting the BNP at the press briefing organized after the China visit, Hasina said: “The mother says she wants discussion but the son says I should be taken on remand for his father’s killing. Before responding, I would like to know what they actually want. Whatever I do, I will do it for the interest of the country and the welfare of the people. As for dialogue, time will set the course of action.” Meanwhile, during the recent meeting between President Abdul Hamid and UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon, the president said: “Dialogue is key to resolving any issue in order to strengthen the democratic system. The government wants to hold talks but if a party boycotts election then how can there be a discussion?” “Once the term of the present government ends, an election with participation of all political parties will be held. The government is willing to discuss about that election with any party,” added the president. BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir lately raised the issue of dialogue at a discussion at the National Press Club. He accused the government of breaching promise and said: “While holding polls, you [the government] said it was constitutional obligation. Now the ruling party leaders are showing no interest in having discussion, though six months have passed since the polls. This is breach of promise.” Sources say in order to resolve the political deadlock, AL and BNP leaders met in three phases, with UN assistant secretary general for political affairs Oscar Fernandez-Taranco acting as the mediator, before the January 5 polls. The BNP delegation comprised of Mirza Fakhrul, standing committee member Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Dr Abdul Moin Khan, vice chairman Shamsher Mobin Chowdhury and adviser to the chairperson Sabihuddin Ahmed. AL leaders who participated in the meetings included general secretary Syed Ashraful Islam, Amir Hossain Amu, Tofail Ahmed and Gowher Rizvi, adviser to the prime minister on foreign affairs. During the meetings, the AL called on the BNP not to oppose or disrupt the January 5 polls and also promised that there would be dialogue and fresh polls within a short period after the tenth general elections. The BNP, according to sources, agreed to it in a secret deal, though its leaders have always denied doing this. They refused to talk to the press in this regard but as the government is not supposedly keeping its promise, the BNP leaders are now spilling the beans. “There must be dialogue to resolve the political crisis,” BNP standing committee member Nazrul Islam Khan told thereport24. “The government will have to bow to the people’s demand. The discussion will be centred on settling the demand for a non-partisan and neutral caretaker administration,” he said. The BNP will not compromise on the mass people’s demand, added the BNP leader. (This report has been translated by Mahmudul Islam and edited by Md. Al-Amin for thereport24/English) Ends/thereport24/TS/MI/AMA/June 22, 2014 - See more at: english.thereport24/?page=details&article=21.8984#sthash.0F9ndCTV.dpuf
Posted on: Sun, 22 Jun 2014 19:29:47 +0000
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