Hopes of a political settlement over the mode of polls-time administration between the Awami league and BNP are beginning to fade away as both camps reportedly stuck to their guns.
The talk this time was initiated by the United Nations Envoy Oscar Fernandez Taranco to end the political stalemate.
A senior BNP leader who was not present in the dialogue said Awami League at the third round of meetings on December 13 came up with a proposal for talks over the 11th parliamentary polls as the BNP could not join the election this time.
The proposal actually exposed the government’s intention over the talks and dashed the prospect of the dialogue, he said.
After that meeting none contacted each other as both the parties were rigid on their stances. The delegates of both parties, however, told the media that they would talk to their top leaders and meet again.
A senior BNP leader who was not present in the dialogue said a senior Awami League leader at the third spell of meetings proposed for talks over the 11th general elections, not for the 10th general elections while another Awami League leader seconded his proposal.
The BNP leader also said the Awami League leaders, however, did not mention any time frame for the 11th general polls.
In reply to the proposal BNP leaders argued that if Awami League cannot go beyond constitution now how it could do the same during the 11th parliamentary elections before completing its five-year term since that would be a violation of the constitution.
Rather the article 123 (3) (b) now can open the avenue towards a settlement, they said.
“As there has been a significant progress in the election preparation the BNP, in no way, can join the polls even if any consensus can be reached. If we go for any consensus it can be for the next elections,” Obaidul Kader, a presidium member of the Awami League, told journalists.
Another presidium member Suranjit Sengupta said the 14-party alliance government had won the mandate for the second time and got the majority in the 10 parliament.
“Talks can be held on the 11th parliament polls. If there is any ground for a negotiation on a mid-term polls that can go on for a peaceful settlement,” he said.
When asked, Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan, BNP standing committee member, said: “The fact that Awami League has been forced to declare 154 MPs elected already without any election taking place is a confirmation of the BNP’s contention that there cannot be any free and fair polls under the Awami League Government. This is also a major victory for BNP as it proved the contention of BNP on the lack of confidence by the people on Awami League as a viable government of the day who can be trusted by them for a credible election.”
Gowher Rizvi, International affairs adviser to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, declined to comment on the dialogue issue as they were committed not to reveal the discussion points.
However, he said: “The BNP, by rejecting the election commission’s election schedule, has missed the train and it does not seem to have any opportunity to participate in the next elections.”
“Under the provisions of the constitution, there is no room for any delay in the election beyond January 24 when the current parliament expires and therefore all doors seem to have closed.
“However, nothing would give us greater satisfaction if we could bring the BNP into the election race.”
Apparently dejected the BNP, after the dialogue prospect stumbled, decided to go for more vigorous movement to realise its demands.
The ruling Awami League, on the other hand, has taken all-out preparation to thwart the movement.
Meanwhile, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia was supposed to hold a press conference on December 15 to present its view on the current political situation but the date was deferred as its key ally Jamaat-e-Islami called shutdowns across the country on that day, said another senior leader.
Yet another senior leader said they were holding a series of meetings with diplomats and briefing them about the latest political situation of the country.
He also said the European Union diplomats’ decision of not going to the National Mausoleum was also a projection of their grievances on the government.
“The government wants the dialogue to continue but it is unwilling to suspend the election schedule. Then what is the dialogue for? The dialogue prospect is fading away as the government is hell-bent on its stances,” Nazrul Islam Khan, BNP standing committee member, observed.