Dialogue yields no solution, more talks likely

The Jatiya Oikya Front on Thursday said that its movement for seven-point demand and talks with the government would continue as its major demands remained unresolved at the talks with prime minister and Awami League president Sheikh Hasina in the evening.
At the talks at her official residence Ganabhaban, the prime minister assured the new opposition alliance leaders that ‘political cases’ against Bangladesh Nationalist Party leaders would be looked into and activists and there would be no bar on public rallies at open spaces ahead of the 11th parliamentary polls due by January 28, 2018. 
At the talks, which began at about 7:00pm and ended at about 10:30pm, Hasina was accompanied by 22 other leaders of the ruling Awami League and its allies while a 20-member delegation of the front was led by Gono Forum president Dr Kamal Hossain. 
BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir placed the seven demands after Kamal made an introductory speech, front leader Subrata Chowdhury said at a briefing at Kamal’s Baily Road house.
The demands include resignation of the government, formation of a party-neutral government through discussion with all political parties, dissolution of the parliament, release of jailed BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia and all other political prisoners and reconstitution of the Election Commission before the next general election.
‘We have reached a consensus on some issues in the talks and more talks will be held,’ AL general secretary Obaidul Quader told reporters at Ganabhaban.
He said that the front led by Kamal Hossain was assured of all support for a free and fair election on behalf of the government. 
The prime minister also assured them that they would be allowed to freely hold rallies at open places, Quader said, adding, ‘she also asked for a list of political cases filed against BNP leaders and activists as the issue was raised in the dialogue.’
The BNP general secretary said that he was not satisfied with the outcome of the talks.
On the demand for the release of jailed Khaleda, Fakhrul said at the briefing at Kamal’s house that Hasina told them that issue was pending with the court.
About the demand for dissolution of parliament and formation of neutral government, Obaidul Quader said that Hasina told the front leaders that the government would not go beyond constitutional framework.
‘Listening our statements, the prime minister gave a lengthy speech but we got no special solution,’ said Kamal Hossain at the briefing at his house.
Subrata, reading out the written statement at the briefing, said that Hasina said that there would be no obstacle on rallies and political programmes across the country including in Dhaka.
The prime minister said that she already instructed the law enforcement agencies to this end.
About political cases, mass arrest and fictitious cases, the prime minister asked them to give lists of those cases and assured them that those would be definitely considered, said Subrata.
She also assured that her government would also consider so that opposition leaders and activists not harassed, he said.
Sheikh assured the front leaders that the talks over their demands would continue.
Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal president ASM Abdur Rob said that their movement for the demands and the talks would continue. 
Dinner was served during the talks that continued till 10:30pm.
Hasina invited the front to the talks for opening a discussion on all matters under the constitution as Kamal sent a letter to her asking of the talks on the seven-point demand.
A group of activists of the Jatiya Oikya Prakriya, a component of the front, staged demonstration holding lightened candles standing on the road in front of Ganabhaban in the evening demanding fruitful talks for fair polls when the talks was underway.
Obaidul Quader, AL leaders Amir Hossain Amu, Tofail Ahmed, Matia Chowdhury, Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, Mohammed Nasim, Abdur Razzaque, Kazi Zafarullah, Abdul Matin Khasru, Ramesh Chandra Sen, Anisul Huq, Mahbubul Alam Hanif, Dipu Moni, Jahangir Kabir Nanak, Abdur Rahman, Abdus Sobhan Golap, Muhammad Hasan Mahmud and SM Rezaul Karim, Samyabadi Dal chief Dilip Barua, Workers Party of Bangladesh president Rashed Khan Menon and Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal faction president Hasanul Haq Inu and Bangladesh Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal executive president Mayeenuddin Khan Badal were with Hasina at the talks. 
Fakhrul, BNP standing committee members Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Moudud Ahmed, Muhammad Jamiruddin Sircar, Abdul Moyeen Khan and Mirza Abbas, Jatoya Samajtantrik Dal faction president ASM Abdur Rob, vice-president Tania Rob and general secretary Abdul Malek Ratan, Nagorik Oikya leaders Mahmudur Rahman Manna and SM Akram, Jatiya Oikya Prakriya leaders Sultan Muhammed Mansur Ahmed and ABM Mostafa Amin, Gonoshasthaya Kendra founder Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury, Gono Forum executive president Subrata Chowdhury, general secretary Mostafa Mohsin Montu and its leaders Mokabbir Khan, Jaglul Haider Afrik and AHM Shafiq Ullah were in the delegation of the front floated on October 13. 
Bikalpa Dhaara Bangladesh-led alliance is also scheduled for today to join talks with Hasina at the same venue. AL’s political ally Jatiya Party would also have talks with Hasina on November 5. 
The Election Commission briefed president Md Abdul Hamid on Thursday about its preparations for the polls and announcement of the schedule.
Jatiya Oikya Front on Thursday deferred its rally in Dhaka city, scheduled for today, until November 6 as the police authority the alliance to shift the rally to other day, BNP publicity secretary Shahiduddin Chowdhury Annie told New Age.

News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net