Fakhrul, Ashraful can hold dialogue

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia has offered secretary general-level talks between the ruling Awami League and the opposition BNP to resolve the ongoing political stalemate over the next general elections.
"BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and Awami League General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam could be the representatives of the two sides [at the talks], ” Khaleda was quoted as saying at a meeting with Chinese Ambassador in Dhaka Li Jun.
At the meeting at the BNP chief's Gulshan office on Monday evening, the envoy said that as a friend friend of Bangladesh, China is concerned over the present political stalemate.
In response, Khaleda, also leader of the opposition in parliament, said the political situation in the future would depend on the action of the government. "We are ready to hold talks with the government on the election under a non-party neutral government," she said.
Khaleda's offer for talks came as Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is yet to respond to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and US Secretary of State John Kerry's calls for talks to resolve the crisis.
Earlier in 2006, the much-talked-about secretary-general level talks between the AL and the BNP failed to break the political standoff as both sides remained rigid on their stance.
Political analysts say this time also the two sides are showing an uncompromising attitude, diminishing the prospect of an amicable solution to the impasse.
In the past, China used to refrain from making any political statement on the internal issues of another country. But this time the Chinese envoy has moved to bring the two rival sides (AL and BNP) to a discussion table to overcome the political crisis. And he has been speaking about political issues for the last few months.
As part of his move, the envoy met the BNP chief. And the main talking points between them were released to the press by the Chinese embassy yesterday.
“We have seen both BNP and Awami League agree that the coming election should be free, fair and inclusive, and leading statesmen have showed their will to resolve the dispute through discussion,” Li Jun said.
China sincerely hopes that both parties continue to show goodwill to each other, build trust and enlarge consensus, so as to create a sound environment for the next election, he said.
The ambassador also said he has noticed that recently the BNP has been "conducting policies and mass contact programmes in peaceful ways," and he also sees that the party will have larger political movements after October 25. He believes these future programmes will also be peaceful.
In reply, Khaleda said, “BNP doesn't believe in violence, they have always been conducting programmes in peaceful ways. Regarding war crimes trial, we hope that the trials would be fair and follow internationally accepted standards.”
She added, “If the BNP comes to power through the next election, we will exercise zero tolerance to terrorism.”