AL, BNP top brass sits again

Leaders of ruling Awami League and main opposition BNP yesterday exchanged “proposals” to resolve the ongoing political crisis over the 10th parliamentary polls.
While on the other side, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rakibuddin Ahmad said the situation was becoming difficult to ensure participation of all political parities in the January 5 general elections.
However, after the third round of dialogue between AL and BNP yesterday, both parties declined to elaborate on “the proposals” to the media.
AL General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam and BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhurl Islam Alamgir represented their parties in the third round of dialogue held at a UN project office in the capital’s Gulshan in presence of UN Resident Coordinator in Dhaka Neal Walker.
After the meeting, AL’s Ashraf said: “Both parties have tabled some points. They [BNP] will discuss our points with their top leadership while do it on their points with our high command.”
BNP’s Mirza Fakhrul said, “We are talking with Awami League and the government for the third time for a free, fair and inclusive election, which will be acceptable to all.”
He also said they would again sit in a dialogue soon.
AL and BNP sources said the two parties were still firm on their stances and there were hardly any chance for them to reach a consensus at this crucial stage when the deadline for candidacy withdrawal had expired.
AL’s Amir Hossain Amu, Tofail Ahmed and Gowher Rizvi, and BNP’s Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Abdul Moyeen Khan and Shamsher Mobin Chowdhury also attended yesterday’s dialogue.
On Wednesday, leaders of the two parties had held talks at the same venue in presence of UN Assistant Secretary General Oscar Fernandez-Taranco, who brought them to the negotiation table.
CEC BRIEFING
“The situation is becoming difficult, but the possibility of a political consensus will always remain alive. If everyone [politicians] reaches a consensus, they will be able to find a way forward,” he told reporters at the EC Secretariat last evening.
The CEC made the remark in response to reporters’ query whether it would be possible for BNP to participate in the election as the deadline for nomination withdrawal had expired yesterday.
When his attention was drawn to Jatiya Party (JP) Chairman HM Ershad’s letter requesting him not to allocate the symbol “plough” to any other candidate, the CEC said, “We have directed all the returning officers about it and they will make decision on this matter as per law.”
On Wednesday, citing that JP would not join the polls, Ershad had requested the CEC not to allocate the party’s symbol “plough” to anyone.