AL didn’t go for talks under pressure: Quader

Awami League did not sit in talks with opposition alliance Jatiya Oikyafront under pressure, the party’s General Secretary Obaidul Quader said today.

“Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said, her door is open for everyone,” Quader said at the rally held in Mymensingh Circuit House ground this afternoon.

“The dialogue was not a fruit of some pressure. We (Awami League) did not bow down to any pressure,” Quader said strongly during the rally.

The Awami League leader was referring to last night’s discussion with Oikyafront leaders at Gono Bhaban and the upcoming meetings with other parties.

Notably, ruling Awami League is going for dialogue with parties inside the 90-day timeframe for general elections. Side by side, election preparation is underway.

HOW THE DIALOGUE CAME TO BE?

It was Dr Kamal Hossain, a senior leader at opposition alliance Oikyafront, who wrote to the premier seeking for talks over the upcoming election.

Hasina responded positively and invited Oikyafront leaders over at her official residence last night. The talks held there, however, did not satisfy opposition leaders.

However, it is important to note that two key points of the Oikyafront are release of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and dissolution of parliament.

Awami League have always maintained that there is no scope of going beyond the constitution and that the elections will be held under Awami League government.

WHAT WAS DISCUSSED?

After the talks that began at 7:00pm, AL leaders assured the opposition alliance of holding further talks to find a solution to the political crisis over the upcoming national election. But Oikyafront leaders said chances of more talks were slim.

Kamal Hossain, also president of Gono Forum, gave an introductory speech at the beginning.

READ MORE: Not much resolved, say leaders

Later, Fakhrul presented their seven-point demand including, formation of a neutral election-time government, dissolution of parliament before the polls schedule is announced, reconstitution of the Election Commission and deployment of army with magistracy power during the election.