The ruling Awami League has urged the main opposition BNP to withdraw the countrywide hartal it has warned of enforcing from October 27 to 29, and start preparing for the upcoming parliamentary election.
AL presidium member Mohammad Nasim made the appeal at a press conference held on Friday at AL president Sheikh Hasina’s office in Dhanmondi.
Earlier, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia announced after her meeting at the Suhrawardy Udyan plans for a 60-hour non-stop countrywide shutdown if the government failed to initiate a dialogue within the next two days.
Mohammad Nasim labelled Khaleda Zia’s remarks “misleading, unwanted, undemocratic and unconstitutional”.
“Khaleda has chosen the path of conflict by making provocative remarks,” he said, “Withdraw hartal and come to the path of constitution. Do not create sufferings for the people by enforcing shutdowns.”
Former home minister Nasim said while the prime minister is wishing to hold talks to reach a solution, Khaleda Zia is moving towards conflict.
Responding to the BNP chairperson’s claim that the present government will be “illegal” from October 27, the AL presidium member said: “As per constitutional provisions, the ruling government will remain in office till January 24, 2014, unless the PM takes any decision in this regard.”
Earlier in the day, after a combined meeting with the leaders of the 14-party alliance, Nasim, who is also the spokesperson for the alliance, urged Khaleda Zia not to jeopardise the environment of dialogue with derogatory statements.
He thanked BNP for placing its proposal in parliament but asked the party to place it the House according to the rules of procedure.
“If you place your proposal in a proper way, then discussions on it can be held,” Nasim said.
Present at the Dhanmondi meeting were 14-party leaders Hazi Abdus Samad, Enamul Huq, Shahidullah Sarker, Ahmod Hossain, AFM Bahauddin Nasim Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury, and Mrinal Kanti Das.
