Tofail: Citizens' dialogue proposal impractical

Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed has said the proposal made by the eminent citizens regarding the dialogue with BNP is impractical.

He made the statement while addressing a press conference at the secretariat on Tuesday afternoon.

The minister said: “If we accept the proposal of dialogue now then it will be a compromise with militancy.”

“The proposal of the dialogue is impractical and unacceptable,” he added.

He said Awami League was ready to sit in a dialogue with BNP when UN envoy Oscar Fernandez-Taranco came to the country but they refused the dialogue invitation.

Tofail said: “When the prime minister called up Khaleda Zia for a dialogue, she rejected the proposal and now they are carrying out subversive activities and calling for a dialogue.

“This is not acceptable.”