Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s Political Adviser HT Imam yesterday made BNP an offer for a dialogue but laid down a few conditions.
Imam said the government would sit across the table if BNP cut its tie with Islamist militants and war criminals.
If BNP means a dialogue it has to stop its violent activities, Imam told a seminar titled “Progress and a Year of Democracy”.
A sub-committee of ruling Awami League’s publicity and publication unit organised the seminar at the Engineers’ Institution, Bangladesh in the capital.
Imam’s statement came following the statement of BNP standing committee member Rafiqul Islam Mia on Sunday.
Rafiqul said the current transport blockade could be lifted if the government agreed to sit for a dialogue with BNP.
On Monday in her party’s rally at Suhrawarthy Udyan Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina warned BNP of dire consequence if it continued with its violent blockade programmes.
A number of leaders in BNP in return for anonymity said they were considering alternative programmes instead of blockade and shutdown on the government’s promise of a dialogue for the snap election.
However, the prime minister adviser denied any possibility of mid-term national election.
“The government can hold mid-term election anytime, if it wishes. It depends on the decision of the government.”
Referring to his recent Europe tour, HT Imam claimed that the European Union thought Bangladesh’s January 5 national poll was held as per the country’s constitution which is acceptable.
“The EU has never discussed mid-term polls but they have just asked us to bring some changes to the electoral system.”
BNP has long been demanding a non-partisan caretaker government be formed to oversee the national polls for which it boycotted the January 5 elections in 2014. The 10th parliamentary election brought the Awami League back to power that formed the government on January 12.