Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who wrapped up weeklong dialogues with political parties on the next parliamentary polls yesterday, had been part of the eventful history of both successful and failed talks.

Records of talks held in around last three decades since the restoration of democracy in the country show that crisis was resolved and political situation improved whenever dialogues between political parties became successful.

However, whenever talks collapsed, it had disastrous consequences. On every occasion, the dialogue results cost the country's people, economy and democracy dearly. It happened between 1994-96, in 2006 and 2013.

Opposition parties led by Hasina had launched vigorous street agitations twice while those led by BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia took to the streets in 2013.

As the top leaders of the Jatiya Oikyafront, an alliance of BNP and several other political parties, were not happy with the outcome of their second round of dialogue with the PM yesterday, it will hold a rally in Rajshahi tomorrow.

After the fall of autocratic ruler Gen HM Ershad in 1990, the first successful talks among the political parties paved the way for a smooth transition to democracy. They reached an agreement and requested then chief justice Shahabuddin Ahmed to lead the interim government after Ershad's resignation as president.

The Shahabuddin government was successful in leading a peaceful transition to democracy through holding a free and fair national election in February 1991. Parliamentary democracy was restored in the country.

There are other instances of holding successful talks back then.

But only four years after the restoration of democracy, the political parties failed to resolve a deadlock through talks.

From September 1994 to January 1996, the country's eminent citizens, foreign dignitaries, including a special envoy of the then Commonwealth secretary general and diplomats in Dhaka, mediated a series of negotiations between the then ruling BNP and the opposition AL to resolve the political crisis over the introduction of an election-time government.

As the negotiations failed, the country witnessed a massive street violence and eventually a one-sided parliamentary election in February 1996. The polls were boycotted by the AL and its allies who had been agitating for the introduction of a nonpartisan caretaker government system.

In 2004, a political crisis developed over increasing the retirement age of Supreme Court judges through a constitutional amendment. The amendment paved the way for then chief justice KM Hasan to become the chief adviser of the election-time caretaker government.

Under the leadership of Hasina, the then AL-led opposition alliance strongly rejected the amendment saying they would not accept Justice Hasan as the chief adviser.

Towards the fag end of its five-year tenure, the BNP-led government agreed to sit for talks with the AL to break the political deadlock. Then BNP secretary general Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan and AL general secretary Abdul Jalil held several rounds of talks at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban. But the talks failed to resolve the crisis.

The tenure of the BNP government came to an end with the crisis remaining unresolved. There was violence in the street.

Then president Iajuddin Ahmed opened talks with political parties to end the impasse.

The BNP rejected the AL's proposal for finding an alternative to Justice Hasan. All of a sudden, Iajuddin, on the BNP's advice, assumed the office of the chief adviser, ignoring the constitutional provision. The crisis worsened further.

At one stage, the AL-led alliance pulled out of the national election scheduled for January 22, 2007, and intensified street agitation. The party announced that it would resist the election. The country plunged into political chaos resulting in the declaration of the state of emergency on January 11.

The crisis over the election-time government prevailed in 2011 when the AL government, led by Hasina, abolished the caretaker government system by amending the constitution.

The constitutional amendment not only allowed the AL to stay in power during the national election, but also allowed all lawmakers to seek re-election staying in office.

This time, the BNP-led alliance, under the leadership of Khaleda, took to the streets demanding restoration of the caretaker government system. The AL rejected the demand. A political deadlock continued in the country with an escalation in violence.

Early in December 2013, the United Nations sent its key official Oscar Fernández-Taranco to Dhaka for a four-day visit to discuss with political leaders a mutually acceptable formula to hold an “inclusive, non-violent and credible” election.

He held several rounds of talks with AL and BNP leaders. But the dialogues failed to break the deadlock, resulting in a one-sided parliamentary election in January 2014.

Timeline: failed talks 

1994-1996: Crisis over introduction of caretaker government

Sept 26, 1994: Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and Opposition leader Sheikh Hasina formally agree to hold talks mediated by Commonwealth Secretary-General  Emeka Anyaoku

Oct 2, 1994: Sheikh Hasina told Emeka Anyaoku: "Awami League is ready to sit in dialogue but the government is not cordial to create the environment for talks."

Oct 5, 1994: Commonwealth secretary-general nominates Sir Ninian Stephen as his special envoy to mediate dialogue. Emeka Anyaoku meets PM Khaleda Zia

Oct 13, 1994: Sir Ninian Stephen arrives in Dhaka

Oct 25, 1994: The much-talked about dialogue between government and opposition fails

Oct 31, 1994: Sir Ninian Stephen requests Sheikh Hasina not to announce final programme for agitation for the sake of dialogue

Nov 12, 1994: Clash between AL and BNP in Natore leaves 3 bullet-hit

Dec 28, 1994: MPs of AL, Jatiya Party, NDP, Jamaat-e-Islami resign en-mass from parliament

Feb 18, 1995: Opposition turns down Prof AQM Badruddozza Chowdhury's proposal for dialogue

Sep 4, 1995: US Assistant Secretary of State Robin L Raphel arrives in Dhaka

Sep 5, 1995: Robin Raphel holds meeting with Hasina and other political leaders

Sep 7, 1995: Robin Raphel meets Khaleda

Sep 16, 1995: 72-hour hartal enforced by opposition AL begins

Oct 16, 1995: 96-hour hartal enforced by opposition AL begins; two killed

Oct to Nov, 1995: Five eminent citizens including Rehman Sobhan and Barrister Ishtiaq Rahman meet with Khaleda and Hasina several times to break the political standoff

Jan 16, 1996: Ambassadors and High Commissioners of the US, UK, Japan, Canada, Australia and Italy hold meeting with Hasina and Khaleda

Feb 15, 1996: Sixth parliamentary elections held without opposition party

2006-2007: Crisis over appointment of chief adviser of caretaker government 

July 13, 2006: Businessmen seek dialogue between BNP and Awami League

Sep 5, 2006: PM Khaleda Zia at a rally in Noakhali: "There are many political parties which will participate in the election regardless of whether the opposition party takes part in the polls."

Sep 6, 2006: Awami League led 14-party besieges Election Commission. Dhanmondi turns into battlefield.

Sep 14, 2006: PM Khaleda calls upon two secretary generals of BNP and AL to sit in dialogue

Sep 18, 2006: Opposition leader Sheikh Hasina at a rally in Paltan: "Dhaka will be paralysed if [former] Justice KM Hasan takes over as chief of caretaker government. Come to Dhaka with whatever belongings you have."

Oct 4, 2006: PM Khaleda asks to reach consensus immediately. Opposition leader Sheikh Hasina says: "Caretaker government might be formed in line with the constitution, but no Hasan. Accept people's demand."

Oct 5, 2006: Reform-dialogue begins. AL General Secretary Abdul Jalil hands over 21-point proposal to BNP Secretary General Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan.

Oct 10, 2006: Dialogue suspended until October 16.

Oct 25, 2006: PM Khaleda Zia's address to the nation: "There is nothing to be disappointed about if dialogue fails. The constitution is the safeguard."

Oct 25, 2006: BNP Secretary General Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan declares that it is not possible to reach consensus without KM Hasan.

Oct 27, 2006: Oath taking ceremony suspended as Justice KM Hasan "falls sick".

Oct 28, 2006: Former Chief Justice KM Hasan 

declines to head the caretaker government "in the interest of the people."

President Iajuddin Ahmed expresses his willingness to assume the role of chief adviser at a meeting with BNP, AL and other political parties. AL rejects the 

proposal outright.

At least 12 people were killed and about 2,000 wounded in an escalation of violence across the country.

PM Khaleda Zia urges opposition to accept whatever decision the president takes on caretaker chief.

Opposition leader Sheikh Hasina says the president should follow the constitution.

Nov 15, 2006: Khaleda Zia: "Constitution must be upheld at any cost."

Nov and Dec , 2006: A diplomatic circle known as "Coffee Group" holds meeting with different political parties including AL and BNP

Jan 10, 2007: United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon issues a statement calling on all sides to compromise and refrain from violence

Jan 11, 2007: President Iajuddin Ahmed resigns from post of chief adviser declaring a state of emergency in the country

2013: Crisis over restoration of caretaker government

May 10, 2013: A five-member UN delegation led by Oscar Fernández-Taranco, assistant UN secretary-general for political affairs, arrives in Dhaka

May 11, 2013: Taranco holds meeting with PM Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia, urging them to reach a consensus on holding a free and fair national election

May 12, 2013: Taranco meets Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury

Nov 30, 2013: 3 killed on the first day of 72-hour blockade

Dec 4, 2013: Indian Foreign Secretary meets Hasina, Khaleda and HM Ershad

Dec 6, 2013: Five-member UN team, including Taranco, arrives in Dhaka

Dec 7, 2013: Taranco meets Hasina and Khaleda

Dec 8, 2013: Taranco meets JP Chief Ershad, CEC Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmed and PM's adviser Gowher Rizvi

Dec 10, 2013: AL and BNP sit in a meeting to discuss crisis

Dec 11, 2013: UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon calls PM Hasina over phone

Dec 12, 2013: JP Chief Ershad has been picked up

Dec 13, 2013: 128 MPs elected uncontested

Ban Ki-Moon calls the President

AL and BNP sit for third time to end political crisis

Dec 17, 2013: 72-hour blockade begins

Dec 24, 2013: BNP Chair Khaleda urges people to march towards Dhaka from every corner of the country

A cop killed in arson attack in bus; AL MP among 15 hurt in clash

Dec 26, 2013: Bomb attack on cops again, 1 killed in Rajshahi

Dec 30, 2013: British High Commissioner Robert Gibson meets Khaleda 

Jan 1, 2014: Non-stop blockade starts

Jan 3, 2014: 2 dead, 8 burnt in blockade

Jan 5, 2014: 10th general election held amid intense localised violence leading to at least 18 deaths

With multiple aspirant candidates already campaigning hard in almost all constituencies, Awami League President Sheikh Hasina last night issued a tough warning to those looking to contest the election as rebels.

“Once a rebel, forever a rebel,” three sources quoted Hasina as telling at a joint meeting of the party's central working committee, advisory council and the AL Parliamentary Party at the Gono Bhaban.

If anyone goes against the party decision to run in the election, they will be expelled from the party for life, the sources added, quoting the prime minister.

Hasina also asked her party leaders to throw their weight behind the party-nominated candidates in the upcoming election.

The party may change its candidate even on the last date of nomination withdrawal. Party leaders must accept that decision and demonstrate a mentality of sacrifice, she told the meeting.

Losing the election will mean dangerous consequences for AL leaders, she warned, asking them to keep that in mind and work together to avoid such consequences.

In almost each of the 300 constituencies, there are four, five or even more aspirants. This has caused a major headache for the party high-ups already, as multiple candidates in the same constituency could affect the election results.

In almost all local government elections in the last 10 years, dissidents were the main problem for the party. In many places, AL candidates lost because of their party rivals.

Under the AL constitution, leaders can be expelled for running against party candidates. Despite the threat, however, party rebels did exactly that in recent years.

More than a dozen AL dissidents won in the January 5, 2014, national election that was boycotted by major political parties. One of them even beat an AL presidium member. But the party did not take any disciplinary action against the rebels.

Intra-party conflicts remain a thorny issue for the party. Over the last four years, leaders of the AL and its affiliated organisations clashed with each other, often violently.

At least 100 people were killed and 8,690 injured in 634 such incidents, according to Ain o Salish Kendra, a leading rights organisation.

At the meeting, Hasina also asked her party leaders not to criticise Hefajat-e Islam, sources said.

Hefajat and Jamaat-e-Islami are not the same thing and they should not be mixed up, she said, asking the party leaders to develop relations with Islamic parties before the election.

The meeting also formed 15 committees to oversee party activities for the national election. A separate core committee with presidium and advisory council members was formed to monitor the activities of these 15 committees. PM's son and her ICT Affairs adviser Sajeeb Wazed Joy is also in the core

Hasina said the party was yet to give green signal to any candidate for the election. 

She also alleged that Jatiya Oikyafront, the new alliance of BNP and several other parties, was trying to make the election questionable and controversial.

She instructed her party-men to remain watchful of Oikyafront's activities.

At the end of the meeting, many party leaders sought her blessings, sources said. 

At this, Hasina said she gave them her blessings but not nomination. She also asked them not to publicise the pictures of the meeting to claim that they were given nomination, according to the sources.

The meeting began with Hasina expressing her optimism about AL's victory, saying pro-liberation forces would remain in power during the golden jubilee celebrations of the country's independence, reports BSS.

She said the golden jubilee of independence would not be celebrated properly if the pro-liberation forces were not in office. “The Pakistan-lovers will not celebrate it. It's a reality.”

Blasting those who do not see Bangladesh's progress, Hasina said one of the leaders who formed Jatiya Oikyafront commented that Pakistan achieved more development than Bangladesh.

“He should be sent to Pakistan to see the actual situation there,” she said.

Talking about Khaleda Zia, the PM said the BNP chief was in jail for embezzling orphans' money, not for any political reason, reports UNB.

About the new alliance, the PM said Oikyafront leaders alleged that the government did not allow them to hold any rally, but in reality they are holding rallies.

"I told the authorities concerned that democracy prevails in the country. Let them hold as many meetings as they want," she said.

About the demand for an election-time neutral government, the AL chief said as per the High Court verdict, no unelected government is allowed to come to power.

"How do the great lawyers demand such a government after such a verdict? Why are they demanding formation of another government for the election purpose? Why is this demand? How do they press for it?" she asked.

Hasina questioned the intention of the Oikyafront leaders, saying, “Whether they want election or something else is the big question.”

Awami League's decision to not compete for two of the recently vacated seats, rather letting its allies vie for them, is aimed at strengthening its relations with partners ahead of the 12th national election, slated for January 2024.

On the other hand, AL's decision to not give the party symbol to anyone competing in the upcoming Brahmanbaria-2 by-polls is an effort to keep the main opposition, Jatiya Party, in its fold, according to AL insiders.

AL's parliamentary board on Sunday decided to leave two seats -- Thakurgaon-3 and Bogura-4 -- for Workers Party and Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD-Inu), respectively.

In the last election held in 2008, AL left Thakurgaon-3 for Workers Party, Bogura-4 for JSD-Inu, and Brahmanbaria-2 for Jatiya Party, but BNP won those seats.

As AL is trying to expand its alliance by taking pro-liberation political forces on board, the party's latest decision is to satisfy its alliance and electoral partners. The ruling party is now working on its relations with its partners, belonging to the 14-party alliance, and has already sat with them several times. It is also closely maintaining relations with Jatiya Party.

The ruling party has decided to contest for three of the six seats that remain vacant since the recent resignation of BNP lawmakers. The election of those six seats will be held on February 1.

On December 11, a day after BNP's rally in Dhaka, seven BNP MPs, one from reserved seat, tendered their resignation letters to the JS speaker as part of their party's anti-government movement. And so, six seats -- Brahmanbaria-2, Thakurgaon-3, Bogura-4, Bogura-6, Chapainawabganj-2 and Chapainawabganj-3 -- were vacated.

Awami League's decision came after Workers Party and JSD wrote letters to the ruling party to sacrifice those two seats for them.

According to insiders, as AL is trying to expand its alliance by taking pro-liberation political forces on board, the party's latest decision is to satisfy its alliance and electoral partners.

The ruling party is now working on its relations with its partners, belonging to the 14-party alliance, and has already sat with them several times. It is also closely maintaining relations with Jatiya Party, said sources.

AL took part in the 2008, 2014 and 2018 elections under the banner of the 14-party alliance, which was treated as AL's ideological alliance. Besides, Jatiya Party was an electoral partner of AL in those elections.

When AL formed the government in 2009, Jatiya Party became the main opposition in the House, while AL ignored its partners. But leaders of the allies were inducted into the government formed in 2009 and 2014, they said.

A gap started forming between partners of the 14-party alliance and Awami League. This gap has widened day by day due to AL ignoring its partners.

This friction was exposed on December 8, when AL convened a meeting with its partners. The ruling party drew heavy flak from its left-leaning allies for ignoring them while taking crucial political decisions and for starting "electioneering" for the next national polls by keeping its partners in the dark.

Leaders of the leftist parties told AL leaders that they are disappointed, as the ruling party does not give them space in the government nor give the alliance much importance.

On the other hand, relations between AL and JP have lately strained, as the former believes JP Chairman GM Quader has reached an understanding with BNP leaders about a simultaneous anti-government movement, sources said.

Things appeared to have soured when several JP leaders started talking about "government misrule" a few months ago and last month. GM Quader said his party does not belong to any alliance with AL.

Under such circumstances, the ruling party started trying to strengthen relations with its partners.

AL President Sheikh Hasina, also the prime minister, held a meeting with two top leaders of Jatiya Party, while top leaders of AL had several meetings with its left-leaning partners.

Talking to the Daily Star, a top leader of Workers Party, wishing anonymity, said, "As Awami League decided to participate in the next election under the banner of the 14-party alliance, the ruling party is trying to satisfy partners and the latest decision shows that."

"We will wage movements and participate in the election together," AL veteran leader Amir Hossain Amu, also coordinator of the 14-party alliance, told The Daily Star.

He brushed aside claims of the widening gap between AL and its partners.