Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will call BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia to invite her to talks about a polls-time government's structure that will oversee the next general elections.
At a meeting of the 14-party alliance partners, the Awami League chief said her party would not send letters, which would take more time, clarifying her remark from Monday about “communicating” with Khaleda.
“We will not send them any invitation letter for talks. If we send one, mistakes of commas and full stops will be pointed out. We do not have enough time. I would rather phone and invite her to dialogue,” Hasina was quoted by a senior leader of the alliance as saying.
In her introductory speech at the meeting held at Ganabhaban, Hasina also termed Khaleda’s proposal for the polls-time government “impractical,” and alleged that the BNP was “not sincere about any talks.”
Whishing anonymity, the leader of the 14-party alliance told the Dhaka Tribune that at a meeting of the alliance partners Hasina told them that her party was ready to hold talks at any place.
The main opposition BNP sent a formal letter to Awami League General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam on Tuesday to initiate talks. The party also placed its proposal on the polls-time government in parliament yesterday.
The meeting of the ruling alliance also decided to participate in the election together and Hasina asked aspiring candidates to start working to that end. An alliance leader said they had extended support to Hasina’s proposal on the structure of the polls-time administration.
Workers Party President Rashed Khan Menon recommended that the PM strengthen the Election Commission further and give it the charge of important ministries such as the home ministry during polls.
Sources said Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal President Hasanul Haque Inu proposed expanding the alliance including pro-liberation political parties.
Hasina criticised the opposition BNP lawmakers for walking out of parliament. “The BNP placed its proposal for forming a polls-time interim government and staged a walkout. We were ready for discussion but they left the House without listening to us. I think they are not sincere about discussion,” the premier said.
“I do not know why the BNP has proposed such a formula. It has proposed bringing five advisers each from the 1996 and 2001 caretaker governments. But some of them already died, some have expressed their unwillingness to take the responsibility and some are incapable of discharging the duties,” the AL chief said.
Hasina once again vowed to continue the democratic process in the country.
She informed the leaders about her meetings with different political parties on her proposal to form an all-party government to oversee the polls.
“After having meetings with the parties, I will write to the president, advising him to take measures to hold the next general elections,” she added.
Earlier, the premier had a meeting with her alliance partner Jatiya Party.
Ruling alliance leaders Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury, Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, Mohammad Nasim, Syed Ashraful Islam, Rashed Khan Menon, Anisur Rahman Mallick, Bimol Bishwas, Fazley Hossain Badsha, Hasanul Haque Inu, Mainuddin Khan Badol, Shirin Akter, Dilip Barua, Dr Wazedul Islam Khan, Asit Baron Roy, Nurur Rahman Selim, Enamul Haque, Zakir Hossain were present at the meeting.
