Nagarik Oikya Convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna today criticised the government for holding dialogue with the components of the 14-party alliance.

“They are your advisors. You talk to them daily. They are the opposition leaders. You meet with them at the parliament and talk with them out of the parliament. Then, why do you need to hold dialogues with them?” Manna asked the government.

Manna, also a leader of the Jitya Oikyafront, came up with the remarks at a programme this noon as the government is going to hold dialogue with Jatiya Party and other components of the ruling Awami League-led 14-party alliance.

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The government is doing this in order to “malign” the process of dialogue, Manna said.

However, Manna also urged the government to hold dialogue with Jatya Oykiafront again.

Earlier on November 1, a 20-member delegation of the Oikyafront led by Gono Forum President Dr Kamal Hossain held a dialogue with PM Sheikh Hasina led a 23-member delegation of the 14-party alliance at Gono Bhaban in a congenial atmosphere.

Yesterday, a 14-party delegation led by prime minister held a dialogue with 21-member Juktafront team led by Bikalpadhara Bangladesh President Badruddoza Chowdhury.

DIALOGUE WITH JATIYA PARTY

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will hold talks with Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad at her official residence Gono Bhaban on November 5 evening.

Responding to Ershad’s call for dialogue, the prime minister on October 31 invited him for the talks scheduled to be held Monday evening, Gono Bhaban sources said.

HOW WERE THE TALKS INITIATED?

Dr Kamal on behalf of the Oikyafront wrote to the PM on October 28, requesting her to hold talks. On October 30, the PM invited the alliance for talks at her official residence on November 1.

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14-PARTY-OIKYAFRONT TALKS: Not much resolved

Bikalpadhara Bangladesh (BDB) President Dr AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury on October 30 wrote to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, also president of ruling Awami League, for talks over holding the upcoming general election in a free, fair and inclusive manner.

Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad also sent a letter to PM Hasina on October 31 to join talks over the upcoming election, and PM on the same day replied him with an invitation to sit for dialogue on November 5.

PM also invited the Left Democratic Alliance (LDA), a platform of the left-leaning parties, to sit for talks.

WHAT DID KAMAL AND B CHY SAY IN THEIR LETTERS?

Kamal, also president of the Gonoforum, said talks should be held in national interest, and not in the interest of any political party.

“We believe in talks. We always think people are the owner of the country. And owners will always talk among themselves in the interest of the country, not for any party,” he told a discussion at the Jatiya Press Club yesterday.

“Let the dialogue be held in national interest. Let the talks be held keeping national goals and constitutional values at the forefront. We always supported it and will fully support it in future.”

In the letter to the PM, Badruddoza said, “We’re pleased that you’ve extended offer to engage in political dialogue to resolve the problems over the election. We, on behalf of Juktafront and Bikalpadhara Bangladesh, sincerely thank you.”

“We’ll be happy if you invite us to join dialogue with you at your convenient time. We believe it’s possible to resolve all the problems through our will and cordiality.”

WHAT ARE OIKYAFRONT’S DEMANDS?

The 11-point goal announced by the alliance includes ensuring checks and balances in the state power, decentralisation of administration, freeing MPs from the stringent restrictions imposed on them under article 70 of the constitution, formation of a constitutional commission to make appointments to all constitutional and other important posts and full independence of the judiciary.

The alliance also announced a seven-point demand, including the one for holding the next parliamentary election under a nonpartisan government, dissolution of parliament before the polls and recasting the Election Commission.

WHAT ARE BIKALPADHARA’S DEMANDS?

Bikalpadhara Bangladesh (BDB) came up with several demands for holding the upcoming general elections in a free, fair and inclusive manner.

The demands include dissolving the parliament and resignation of PM before announcement of election schedule, reconstitution of the Election Commission, forming a non-party election-time government, and deployment of army during the election with magistracy power, among others.

WHAT ARE THE REACTIONS AFTER THE TALKS?

After the three-and-half hour long talks, Dr Kamal Hossain said they found no specific solution in prime minister’s speech.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said his party was not satisfied with how the talks went.

JSD President ASM Abdur Rab said their movement would continue to realise their seven-point demand.

Meanwhile, Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader said they would not go beyond the constitution.

He also said that the PM assured the Oikyafront leaders that the next national election would be held in a free, fair and neutral manner.

The door will remain open for any further dialogues to find a solution to the political crisis over the upcoming national election, he added.

However, Oikyafront leaders said chances of more talks were slim.

WHAT DID FAKHRUL SAY DURING THE TALKS?

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul presented the Oikyafront’s seven-point demands 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.

WHAT DID DR KAMAL SAY?

During the meeting, Kamal said there were many constitutional ways to ensure a participatory election and resolving the existing political crisis. But the ruling alliance said there were no such ways, sources said, requesting anonymity.

Although the talks were held in a congenial atmosphere, the PM gave no assurance that the government would meet the Oikyafront’s demands.

Around half an hour after the meeting, Kamal told reporters at his Bailey Road residence, “The prime minister gave a long speech. But we didn't find any specific solution there, except for some positive comments about holding rallies and meetings.”

He said they placed their seven-point demand before the PM. “She'll inform us about her final decision later.”