No 'consensus' after second dialogue

Jatiya Oikya Front (JOF) leaders on Wednesday said they will continue their agitation, and as part of the programmes will organise a rally in Rajshahi city tomorrow (Friday).

However, they will not hold the scheduled road-march towards Rajshahi today (Thursday).

The leaders opined that more discussion is required to press home their demands, as no consensus came at the second dialogue with the government at Gono Bhaban.

After the dialogue, the JOF leaders arranged a press briefing at the residence of Gono Forum President Dr Kamal Hossain in the city's Bailey Road area, as announced before.

While briefing the journalists about the day's talks with the government, Dr Kamal said, "We proposed the government to continue discussion in a small scale on the seven-point demands raised by JOF."

Talking about progress of the dialogue, he said, "The Prime Minister (PM) assured JOF of taking steps to withdraw ghostly and harassing cases against opposition leaders and activists, and of not filing such cases in the coming days."

Responding to a query about what's happening in the country's politics, he said, "We have been trying and will continue trying to resolve the problems in a peaceful manner. Now it's the government's responsibility, as the ball is now at their court."

"We want a solution through discussions, we want peace and stability to prevail," he added.

JOF Spokesperson and BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said no decision came at the dialogue about the demands of releasing BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia, resignation of the government, dissolution of parliament, and reforming Election Commission (EC).

In reply to a question about whether the dialogue was fruitful or not, he commented, "It can't be told now, as the discussion is still going on."

Responding to Awami League (AL) General Secretary Obaidul Quader's remark over possibility of Khaleda Zia's release on parole, Fakhrul said, "Obviously, there were talks (at the dialogue) about her (Khaleda) discharge.

But it wasn't about 'parole', as she is legally eligible to come out (from prison)."

He also said JOF will continue its movement as usual and will hold a march towards EC, if it announces the election schedule.

The government assured that there will be no relation between continuing dialogue and announcement of the election schedule, he said, adding "It (election schedule) can be rescheduled, if needed."

"We proposed for further discussions on a limited scale, and the government said the dialogue may continue."

"We still believe that the crisis can be resolved through discussion. If the government doesn't want it, the responsibility will be theirs. We'll go to people. We'll place our demands through people," he added.

Mr Fakhrul also said JOF will organise the road-march towards Rajshahi on Thursday, and hold a rally on Friday.

However, later on the day, BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi told the reporters that the road-march has been postponed, considering the PM's briefing on the outcome of the dialogue.

Earlier on the day, an 11-member delegation of JOF, headed by Dr Kamal Hossain, participated in the second dialogue with AL-led 14-Party Alliance at Gono Bhaban that started at 11.15 am.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina led the 12-member delegation of the 14-Party Alliance at the dialogue that lasted for about three hours.

The ruling party delegation also included senior AL leaders Obaidul Quader, Amir Hossain Amu, Tofail Ahmed, Mohammad Nasim, Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, Advocate Anisul Huq, Dr Dipu Moni, Advocate S M Rezaul Karim and Abdus Sobhan Golap, Workers' Party of Bangladesh President Rashed Khan Menon, and Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JaSoD) President Hasanul Haq Inu.

The JOF delegation also included BNP standing committee members Khandker Mosharraf Hossain and Maudud Ahmed, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) President A S M Abdur Rab and leaders Abdul Malek Ratan and S M Akram, Gono Forum leaders Subrata Chowdhury and Mostafa Mohsin Montu, and Jatiya Oikya Prokria's Sultan Md Mansur Ahmed.

Responding to reporters at Gonobhaban after the dialogue, Nagorik Oikya Convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna said, "The talks were not good enough to reach a solution."

JOF leaders will discuss the issue with each other and will formally react to the dialogue.

Later, in the briefing he further said, "We urged the government not to announce the election schedule right now. Certainly we will not like, if they do it, movement will continue as declared."

UNB adds: after the dialogue, Obaidul Quader told the reporters at Gonobhaban that JOF's demand for dissolution of parliament and holding polls within 90 days of its dissolution could not be granted, as it is unconstitutional.

The AL General Secretary said a level-paying field will be created for holding a credible election, but nothing will be done going beyond the constitution.

The PM urged the JOF leaders to take part in the election, as a level-playing field will be created for making the election acceptable. She assured them of holding a fair, credible and acceptable election, he also said.

"We've no objection to creating a level-playing field, inviting foreign observers and releasing political prisoners. The PM has assured JOF of fulfilling these demands after announcement of the election schedule."

"If Khaleda Zia is a real political prisoner, then her release in parole will be considered, and the Law Minister has been given the necessary instructions in this regard."

Terming the demand of JOF to defer the election schedule an excuse, Quader further said if the election schedule is deferred, evil forces can emerge and a 1/11-like situation can be created.

AL leader Tofail Ahmed told reporters: "JOF made some demands, which are contradictory and conflicting with the constitution. So, these are not acceptable. We have no objection, if they want to sit again on any issue after the announcement of the election schedule."

Another AL leader, Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, said the two sides remained miles apart on the demands.

Dr Kamal on behalf of JOF wrote to the Prime Minister on October 28 to hold talks about the upcoming national election. Responding to the call, JOF and the government sat on the first spell of dialogue at Gono Bhaban on November 1.

[email protected]