Jatiya Oikya Front leader Dr Kamal Hossain said they want to resolve the current political crisis by continuing dialogues, and the ball is now in the government's court.
"Whether the outcomes of the dialogues will be peaceful or violent, depends upon the government," he said at a press briefing held at his residence, on Bailey Road, after the end of the three-hour dialogue between Jatiya Oikya Front and the Sheikh Hasina-led 14-Party Alliance at Ganabhaban on Wednesday.
"We are trying to ensure the organization of a peaceful election through the dialogues," he told reporters.
The responsibility lies within the government to ensure that the situation within the country remains peaceful, Kamal said. "We have asked the Awami League to continue dialogues to maintain stability."
He also thanked the ruling party for agreeing to talk with Jatiya Oikya Front to resolve their seven-point demand, both on November 1 and November 7.
BNP Secretary General and Jatiya Oikya Front representative Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir told reporters that the dialogues are part of their movement to ensure that a fair election is held.
"We believe that the solution to all crises lies in the dialogues," he said. "But if the government does not come to an agreement, then we will continue our political movements."
A rally will be held in Rajshahi on Friday, said Fakhrul.
Nagorik Oikya Convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna said if the Election Commission did not defer its announcement of the election schedule on Thursday, the Oikya Front would march on the streets.
"The Awami League general secretary has said it is unconstitutional for us to ask for the parliament to break," he said. "But it is said in the constitution that an election can only be held within 90 days of the dissolution of parliament.
"How can two parliaments exist simultaneously?" he asked. "They are mistaken; this cannot be constitutional. As such, our seven-point demand is constitutional, and should be upheld."
Asked about the polls-time caretaker government proposed by the Oikya Front, Mirza Fakhrul said: “We have made this demand because it is what the people of the country want. If the government refuses to meet our demand, we will try to get it through our movement.”
Asked about the outcome of the second round of dialogue, the BNP secretary general said: “It’s all relative. We went to the government to put forth our demands. They said they were willing to discuss the issues in future.
“We don’t want to say if the dialogue has been successful yet. We will take our demands to the people of the country. Through the people, we will achieve what we want.”
The second round of dialogue between the Awami League-led government and Jatiya Oikya Front took place at Ganabhaban on Wednesday, November 7, 2018 | PID
'Khaleda Zia eligible to get bail'
Replying to a reporter's questions about BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia's release from prison, the BNP secretary general said the dialogue had not resolved the issues of Khaleda's release, the government's resignation before the election, and reforms to the Election Commission.
"We have proposed that the government to continue limited-scale dialogues to resolve these issues," he said.
Replying to another question of whether Khaleda will be allowed to participate in the election on parole, Fakhrul said: "We have not even raised such a proposal in the dialogue.
"The chairperson is eligible to get bail in the case in which she was accused," he said. "No such proposal of her getting out on parole was discussed in the dialogue.
"Our main demands regarding Khaleda Zia, the dissolution of parliament, and reforms to the Election Commission, were not solved in either of the dialogues," he said. "That is why we hope to continue them."
An 11-member delegation of the Jatiya Oikya Front participated in the second dialogue held with Awami League on Wednesday.
In the dialogue, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina assured the delegates that all false cases lodged against hundreds of political leaders and activists countrywide would be withdrawn. She has also assured the Oikya Front leaders that such cases would not be lodged in the future.
Who took part in the dialogue?
The members of Oikya Front’s delegation that attended the second round of dialogue were: Dr Kamal Hossain, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal President ASM Abdur Rab, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, BNP Standing Committee members Khandkaker Mosharraf Hossain and Barrister Moudud Ahmed, Mostafa MohsinMontu, Advocate Subrata Chowdhury, Nagorik Oikya Convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna, SM Akram, Abdul Malek Ratan and Sultan Mohammad Mansur Ahmed.
Dr Kamal Hossain seen heading towards Ganbhaban to attend the dialogue | Mahmud Hossain Opu/Dhaka Tribune
On the other side, accompanying the prime minister in the dialogue were: Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader, Industries Minister Amir Hossain Amu, Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed, Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury, Law Minister Anisul Huq, Information Minister Hasanul HaqInu, Social Welfare Minister Rashed Khan Menon, Presidium Member Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim and Advocate Yusuf Hossain Humayun.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir seen heading towards Ganbhaban to attend the dialogue | Mahmud Hossain Opu/Dhaka Tribune
Was the previous dialogue fruitful?
In the first round of talks held on November 1 between the newly formed platform and ruling alliance leaders led by Awami League President Sheikh Hasina, only two of Okiya Front’s seven demands were agreed to.
These two were: ensuring a level-playing field for all during the election and allowing foreign observers to monitor the polls.
The major demands placed by the platform – including resignation of the incumbent government, dissolution of parliament, and release of political prisoners including Khaleda Zia – were not considered,and the prime minister clearly stated that the discussions shall be strictly within the scope of the constitution.
When will EC announce the schedule for the general polls?
The Election Commission will announce the schedule for the 11th parliamentary election on Thursday.
Previously, in a meeting on Monday, Jatiya Oikya Front requested the Election Commission to announce the election schedule after dialogues between the political parties and the government had ended.
Awami League General Secretary and also Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader seen heading towards Ganbhaban to attend the dialogue | Mahmud Hossain Opu/Dhaka Tribune
In response to the request, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) KM Nurul Huda on Tuesday said it would not be possible to defer the announcement of the election schedule, but the general polls could be delayed if all parties wanted to do so.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been holding dialogues with different political parties and alliances regarding the general election, which is scheduled to be held in December.
Dialogues with political parties
The ruling Awami League-led Grand Alliance decided to meet with the parties in an effort to resolve the present political crisis and ensure a peaceful parliamentary election.
On November 1, Awami League chief Sheikh Hasina, members of her party and the Grand Alliance held a dialogue with Jatiya Oikya Front – a newly-formed political alliance, of which BNP is a key member.
The next day they held talks with Jukta Front, and with the opposition in parliament Jatiya Party on Monday, November 5.
A dialogue was also held with the Left Democratic Alliance on Tuesday.
