\\\'Talks possible if BNP recognises govt as legal\\\'

Health Minister Mohammad Nasim said Tuesday a dialogue between the ruling Awami League (AL) and BNP can take place if it recognises the current government as the legal one, reports UNB.
"If you (BNP) want any dialogue with the government, you first clearly recognise that the government is legal and constitutional. We can think about engaging in dialogue if you say BNP will take part in the next election under the government," he said.
Mr Nasim, also the presidium member of AL, said this while addressing a rally of rural doctors organised by Bangabandhu Gram Doctors Parishad and Gram Doctors Kalyan Samity at Mohanagar Natya Mancha in the city.
Pointing at Khaleda Zia, Nasim said: "You said you're the leader of the people. If you're the leader of the people, you have to understand the language of the people. But you failed to understand the language in the last election and missed the election train."
About BNP's threat to wage a movement after Eid, Nasim said: "Yes, BNP is talking about forging a movement against the government after Eid, but that Eid would never come to Bangladesh."
About the gram doctors, the Health Minister said: "A committee will be formed headed by an additional secretary of Health Ministry. The committee will fix the criteria for the registration of rural doctors."
Disaster Management and Relief Minister Mofazzel Hossain Chowdhury Maya, among others, spoke at the programme held with Abdus Sattar in the chair.
BSS report adds: Publicity and Publication affairs secretary of ruling Awami League (AL) and former Environment Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud said Tuesday that the dialogue could be held with BNP if it severs relations with militants.
"But, dialogue can be held on all issues other than polls," he said while speaking as the chief guest at a discussion on "Khaleda Zia's Dialogue: a Childish Proposal" organised by Bangladesh Deshoratna Parishad at the reporters' unity in the city Tuesday.
AL central working committee member Sujit Roy Nandi, Dhaka City AL organising secretary Shahe Alam Murad, Sanjida Khanam, MP, former general secretary of Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ) Shaban Mahmud, AL assistant secretary Balaram Poddar, Bangabandhu Sangskritik Jote general secretary Arun Sarker Rana and Swadhinata Shikkhak Parishad member-secretary Shahjahan Alam Saju addressed the function with Bangladesh Deshoratna Parishad president Chitta Ranjan Das in the chair.
Dr Mahmud said: "As a political party AL can't sit for talks with militants and terrorists. The next parliament polls will be held in the year 2019 in accordance with the constitution. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will head the poll-time interim government."
The AL leader said, "People usually go to London for better treatment but BNP senior vice-chairman Tarique Rahman went to Malaysia from London for better treatment."
He said not only Tarique Rahman, senior leaders of BNP including its chairperson need mental treatment because, country's politics will also be sick if they fell mentally indisposed.
In reply to Khaleda Zia's claim that 95 per cent people of the country are with BNP, Dr Mahmud said, "She (Begum Zia) would not have come up with such a claim if she is well mentally.  Not 95 per cent people of the country but 95 per cent anarchists, arsonists, militants and bomb-hurlers are with them (BNP)."
The AL leader called upon the leaders and workers of the ruling party to resist those anarchists in the country.