AL sets pre-condition for Hasina-Khaleda dialogue
Saturday, 15 November 2008
Setting a pre-condition for dialogue Awami League (AL) said its president Sheikh Hasina was willing to sit with BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia if the general election on December 18 was kept on top of the agenda, reports UNB.
"Talks cannot be held to make the polls uncertain. Our leader has said she is ready for talks with Khaleda Zia for the sake of country' s welfare. But the main agenda of the talks will have to be the long-awaited December 18 parliamentary polls," Hasina's special aide Hasan Mahmud told reporters Friday.
Briefing reporters after an hour-long meeting of Iranian Ambassador Hassan Farazandeh with AL chief Sheikh Hasina at her residence Sudhasadan, Dr Mahmud reiterated that the proposed Hasina-Khaleda talks must be broadcast live on all television and radio channels and journalists from print media will also remain present.
He said there was serious reservation among Awami League leaders and activists about the proposed meeting as "BNP-Jamaat forces were behind the August 21 grenade attacks on Sheikh Hasina. The same forces killed thousands of AL supporters during the four-party alliance regime."
Despite this dissatisfaction among the party leaders and activists, he said Sheikh Hasina had agreed to sit with Khaleda Zia for the welfare of the people.
Dr Mahmud said, "Sheikh Hasina's stance is that the elections must be held on December 18."
"Talks cannot be held to make the polls uncertain. Our leader has said she is ready for talks with Khaleda Zia for the sake of country' s welfare. But the main agenda of the talks will have to be the long-awaited December 18 parliamentary polls," Hasina's special aide Hasan Mahmud told reporters Friday.
Briefing reporters after an hour-long meeting of Iranian Ambassador Hassan Farazandeh with AL chief Sheikh Hasina at her residence Sudhasadan, Dr Mahmud reiterated that the proposed Hasina-Khaleda talks must be broadcast live on all television and radio channels and journalists from print media will also remain present.
He said there was serious reservation among Awami League leaders and activists about the proposed meeting as "BNP-Jamaat forces were behind the August 21 grenade attacks on Sheikh Hasina. The same forces killed thousands of AL supporters during the four-party alliance regime."
Despite this dissatisfaction among the party leaders and activists, he said Sheikh Hasina had agreed to sit with Khaleda Zia for the welfare of the people.
Dr Mahmud said, "Sheikh Hasina's stance is that the elections must be held on December 18."