JOF to join talks with PM if it is polls-related, says Fakhrul

FE Team | Published: January 14, 2019 23:56:52

SYLHET, Jan 14 (UNB): BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Monday said Jatiya Oikyafront will join the proposed talks with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina if election-centric agenda is fixed, reports UNB.
"We don't know what will be the agenda of the talks. Our only agenda is to have the election revoked. Jatiya Oikyafront will consider joining the dialogue if election-centric agenda is fixed," he said while talking to reporters after offering fateha at the shrine of Hazrat Shahjalal ®.
Fakhrul, also the spokesman of Oikyafront, said the December-30 election must be annulled and the current 'incompetent' Election Commission (EC) will have to be reconstituted to hold a fresh national election under a non-party neutral government.
"The government will have to be formed through holding a credible election under an impartial government and EC," he said.
The BNP leader said the fresh initiative for dialogue will not be fruitful like the one held before the 11th parliamentary election if their demand for holding a fresh national election under a non-party government is not accepted.
Replying to a question, Fakhrul said Oikyafront remains intact and there is no conflict among its partners.
On Sunday, Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will hold fresh dialogues with the political parties that joined talks at Ganobhaban before the December-30 election.
Jatiya Oikyafront convener Dr Kamal Hossain appreciated the Prime Minister's decision to hold fresh talks with political parties, saying it is a positive step.
Talking to UNB, he also said they will take a positive decision about joining the dialogue with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina after discussions with their alliance partners.
Fakhrul together with Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD-Rob) president ASM Abdur Rob, Krishak Sramik Janata League president Abdul Kader Siddiqui, Gono Forum executive president Subrata Chowdhury and general secretary Mostafa Mohsin Montu reached Sylhet by air around 11:45am.
From the airport, they went to the shrine of Hazrat Shahjalal ®.