AL-BNP’s stance over dialogue

Reza Mahmud :
Widespread discussions have already started across the country, especially in the political arena, about the possibility of dialogue between the Awami League government and the BNP, one of the ruling party senior leaders has hinted.

The discussion started after the Awami League Advisory Council Member and spokesperson of the ruling 14-party alliance Amir Hossain Amu at a rally in the capital on Tuesday that the government may sit with the BNP through the UN to discuss over the next national election.

“It is not possible to resolve the crisis through any other means than dialogue. There can be discussion on anything with the BNP. The door to dialogue is always open to continue the democratic trend. If necessary, talks can be held with the BNP with the mediation of an UN representative,” Amu said.
While the civil society marked it as a positive sign, the main players — the AL and the BNP — showed cold responds. BNP Standing Committee Member Amir

Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury told the journalists that they may think over the matter after getting a written proposal from the government.
Meanwhile, Awami League General Secretary and Road and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader yesterday said that his party has not taken any decision yet in this regard.
“We will discuss our own problems. We will solve it by ourselves if necessary. There is no such political crisis in the country that requires the mediation or intervention of the United Nations,” Quader made the comments while responding to a question from the journalists after paying homage at the portrait of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at Dhanmondi-32 in the capital on the occasion of the historic Six-Point Day.

Meanwhile, Information and Broadcasting Minister and Awami League Joint-General Secretary Dr Hasan Mahmud has said Amir Hossain Amu’s remark over the issue of dialogue with BNP is his personal opinion.
“It is not the statement of the government or the Awami League or the 14-party alliance,” he said while replying to a query from journalists at the Secretariat on Wednesday.
On the other hand, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir yesterday said they are not giving importance to Awami League leader Amir Hossain Amu’s remark on dialogue to resolve political deadlock over the next general election,

Speaking at a press conference, Mirza Fakhrul also said the ruling party leaders’ contradictory comments on the talks with BNP have also manifested how the government has now become unnerved.
“I don’t want to give importance to this issue. I don’t even want to talk about it,” the BNP Secretary General said as journalists sought his comment on Amu’s comment on the dialogue.
Meanwhile, BNP Standing Committee Member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury has said his party will consider a response if it receives a written proposal regarding a joint dialogue.
Replying to a query, he said, “If someone presents a written proposal of a dialogue on the national election to us, then we will consider responding to it.”
When contacted, eminent political analyst Dr. Shahdeen Malik told The New Nation on Wednesday, “It is obviously that the political and economic situation of Bangladesh is now in very sorry state.”
“To overcome this situation it is necessary to hold dialogue between the major political parties, the ruling Awami League and the opposition BNP,” he said.
“As the two parties do not trust each other, the UN is the last platform to be a trustworthy mediator between them (AL and BNP),” Dr. Shahdeen Malik said.
Contacted, Dr Badiul Alam Majumdar, Secretary of SHUJAN, (Citizens for Good Governance) told The New Nation, “If the government and the opposition really want to solve the remaining political crisis of the country then dialogue is a must.”
“Without dialogue nothing can be achieved by the ruling party side or the opposition,” he said.