BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Monday said Jatiya Oikyafront will participate in the proposed talks with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina if an election-centric agenda is fixed for the dialogue.
“We do not yet know what the agenda for the talks will be. Our only aim is to have the election results revoked. Jatiya Oikyafront will consider joining the dialogue if an election-centric agenda is fixed,” Fakhrul, also the Oikya Front spokesperson, said while addressing reporters after offering special prayers at the shrine of Hazrat Shahjalal (RA).
The December 30 general election must be annulled and the current “incompetent” Election Commission reconstituted, in order to hold a fresh election under a neutral government, he added.
The BNP leader further said the fresh initiative for dialogues would not be fruitful if their demands for holding a fresh general election under a non-party government is not accepted, like the talks before the 11th parliamentary polls.
In response to a question, Fakhrul said Oikyafront was still intact and there was no conflict between partners in the alliance.
Earlier 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, describing it as a positive step.
He also said Oikya Front would take a positive decision about joining the dialogue with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina after discussions with alliance partners.
Fakhrul together with Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD-Rab) President ASM Abdur Rab, 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 (RA).
They also offered special prayers at the shrine of Shah Paran (R) before going to the violence-hit Balaganj upazila, where a Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) leader was gunned down by criminals on election day, December 30.
The Oikyafront leaders are scheduled to offer special prayers at the grave of slain Balaganj JCD General Secretary Sayem Ahmed Sohel, before meeting with his bereaved family members.
The Oikyafront leaders will also visit some areas in the upazila were there was violence during the election, before returning to Dhaka.
JCD leader Sayem Ahmed was shot to death during a clash over occupying the Azizpur Government Primary School polling centre in Balaganj upazila on December 30.
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