PM to hold talks with political parties again

PM to hold talks with political parties again

The prime minister will sit again with the political parties, which were invited for dialogue at Gono Bhaban before the general election, Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader said today.

The parties will be invited to the Gono Bhaban through letters, the minister said at the AL office on Bangabandhu Avenue in Dhaka.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will hold the meetings to address the post-polls situation, he informed.

The decision comes after the Jatiya Oikya Front called for a ‘national dialogue’ after it boycotted the 11th national parliamentary election.

The Jatiya Oikya Front was formed on Oct 13, led by Gono Forum President Kamal Hossain. The alliance that includes BNP and other registered and unregistered parties pressed for a seven-point list of demands.

These demands included dissolving parliament ahead of the polls and the release of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia from jail.

The Oikya Front then called for talks amid the Election Commission’s preparations for the polls.

Hasina rather unexpectedly agreed and met the Oikya Front leaders at the Ganabhaban.

Afterwards various parties and alliances sat for meetings with the leader of the government. The Jatiya Oikya Front announced later on that it would take part in the polls ‘as a part of its protest movement’ despite none of their demands being met.

The Kamal Hossain-led alliance then announced plans for a ‘national dialogue’.

The programme was dismissed as ‘laughable’ by Obaidul Quader two days ago.

But on Sunday, he spoke to reporters at the Awami League’s central offices on Bangabandhu Avenue and announced the new round of talks.

The Awami League general secretary did not specify when the talks would take place.

“We may discuss various issues,” he said in response to a question. “We can renew calls for the BNP to sit in parliament and renew our relationship.”