The leaders of different political parties said the failure of the two major parties to hold talks would linger political crisis and trigger more violence, creating a deadlock in the future.
Many of them, who are allies of ruling Awami League, said talks could be held even after arrests of top opposition leaders for resolving the crisis over polls-time government system.
However, a number of politicians outside the ruling or BNP-led opposition alliances thought the latest action of the government would make situation more complicated.
Talking to the Dhaka Tribune, Workers Party President Rashed Khan Menon last night said the arrests were not a barrier if both the ruling and opposition parties were cordial about holding dialogue. However, the country’s democratic system would face a critical situation if no talk was held to solve the ongoing crisis over deciding the polls-time government system, Menon warned.
ABM Ruhul Amin Hawlader, secretary general of Ershad-led Jatiya Party which shares the power with Awami League, said talks could be held under any situation. “But there will be no solution without dialogue. We hope, talks will be held soon.”
Executive President of Gono Forum Advocate Subrata Chowdhury said the whole country was waiting for the dialogue and there were signs that something positive was going to happen. In this transitional period, arrest of opposition top leaders would make the whole situation more complex, he added.
“I think this is a suicidal decision for the government,” Subrata opined.
Echoing Subrata, Ganasanghati Andolan Chief Coordinator Zonayed Saki said torture and harassment would not generate any solution.
“A party could be in power through torture and arrest, but once the culture is established, it will hamper the state on a permanent basis”, he said.
However, former adviser to a caretaker government Dr Akbar Ali Khan said door of negotiation has already been closed by the arrests. The prospect of holding talks would be hampered badly with this act by the government, Dr Akbar said.
“There prevailed crisis in recent past and also in present. This arrest is a symptom that the clashes will be intensified in future. This is a political war which should be stopped as early as possible,” he said.
Bikalpadhara Bangladesh President AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury and Liberal Democratic Party led by Oli Ahmed criticised the government’s crackdown on the BNP leaders.
Arresting opposition leaders would put the government’s invitation extended to the opposition to question, they said. They also demanded the immediate release of the opposition leaders.