PM to invite parties to dialogue

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's Political Adviser HT Imam. Photo: TV Grab

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's Political Affairs Advisor HT Imam yesterday said the PM would invite all political parties for “talks”, just a day after Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader said Hasina would invite the parties to “exchange post-election greetings”.

Imam, however, said the BNP's demand for a fresh election was unrealistic and urged it to accept the reality and help the new government, reports BSS.

Imam made the statements when the newly appointed five advisors to the PM yesterday placed wreaths at the portrait of the Father of The Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in front of Bangabandhu Memorial at Dhanmondi road 32 yesterday.

There has been confusion over the PM's talks with political parties as her second in command gave three different statements in this regard within three days.

On Saturday, Quader termed the opposition's demand for a dialogue “ridiculous” and said there was no need to hold talks. On the following day, Quader, also the road transport and bridges minister, said the PM would hold a dialogue with political parties. He said this after Hasina, at an AL central working committee meeting, hinted at holding such talks.

Quader again changed his position on Monday and said the PM would invite parties only to exchange post-election greetings with them, and not hold any dialogue.

Meanwhile, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Monday said the BNP-led Oikyafront would decide whether it would sit for a fresh round of talks with Sheikh Hasina, once the agenda is set.

Rejecting the December 30 election due to allegations of widespread irregularities and rigging, the main opposition alliance -- the Jatiya Oikyafront -- has been demanding that the government hold a national dialogue with all stakeholders for a fresh election in line with the constitution and laws.

Before the polls, Hasina held dialogues with 75 political parties at her Gono Bhaban residence over different major contentious issues, including the nature of the polls-time government and dissolution of parliament before the announcement of the election schedule, among others.

After the confusion created by Quader's statements, Imam yesterday said the PM would invite all political parties, who were earlier invited to the Gono Bhaban, to hold further talks.

He also said establishing good governance in all sectors was their major challenge, adding that corruption, militancy and drug abuse must be uprooted from society.