Want people to choose their leadership through fair polls: PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today said they want to hold a free, fair and neutral election so that people can choose their leadership.

"To ensure how they will find that leadership is our aim," she said in her introductory speech at a dialogue between the Awami League-led 14-praty alliance and Dr AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury-led Jukta Front.

The talks began at 7:45pm at Prime Minister's official residence Ganobhaban.

Sheikh Hasina led a 14-party delegation at the dialogue while Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh (BDB) president and Jukta Front chairman Dr AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury a 21-member team.

Mentioning that it is not possible to unleash development without the continuation of the democratic trend, the Prime Minister underscored the need for keeping upvthe trend as well as development pace on. "We continued the democratic trend after a long struggle. We're working for people's welfare and taking the country forward. We want the continuation of this trend."

She also said the country's people will be able to cast their votes freely if the democratic trend continues. "We want to create this scope."

Welcoming the Jukta Front leaders to Ganobhaban, Sheikh Hasina said this is people's bhaban (building).

The other Jukta Front delegation members are BDB secretary general Maj (retd) Abdul Mannan, its presidium members Shamsher Mobin Chowdhury, Golam Sarwar Milon, Abdur Rouf Mannan, Mohammad Yousuf, vice president Mahmuda Chowdhury, former MP HM Golam Reza, BLDP president Nazimuddin Al Azad, its general secretary Delwar Hossain, Bangladesh NAP chairman Jebel Rahman Gani, its secretary general M Golam Mostafa Bhuiyan, National Democratic Party (NDP) chairman Khandaker Golam Mortuza, and Janata Party President Sheikh Asaduzzaman.

After the talks, the Jukta Front leaders will hold a press conference at B Chowdhury's Baridhara residence around 11pm, BDB president's press secretary Jahangir Alam told UNB.

On Thursday night, the Awami League-led 14-praty alliance and Jatiya Oikyafront had marathon discussions at Ganobhaban over the next general election.

Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina led a 23-member 14-party delegation while Gono Forum President Dr Kamal Hossain a 20-member Jatiya Oikyafront team in the discussion.

On Tuesday, Prime Minister and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina invited B Chowdhury to join the talks at Ganobhaban as he sent a letter to her seeking talks over the next polls.