AL's allies split on dialogue

Several partners of the ruling Awami League-led 14-party alliance yesterday stressed the need for a dialogue to overcome the current political tension, and urged the government to work to this end.

They said political crisis should be resolved politically instead of using the administration, sources said.

Several other partners of the alliance, however, backed the use of the administration to tackle the anti-government movement by the BNP-led 20-party alliance.

These contradicting views came at a meeting of the 14-party alliance at AL president Sheikh Hasina's Dhanmondi office.

Calling upon the government to take initiatives for a political dialogue, Communist Kendro leader Asit Baron Roy told the meeting that solution to a political crisis could only be resolved in a political way.

Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal Convener Rezaur Rashid Khan and National Awami Party (NAP) leader Ismail Hossain also spoke in favour of a political dialogue. They said discussion among all political parties might bring solution, according to meeting sources.

On the other hand, Workers Party, Jatiyo Samajtantrik Dal, Gonotontri Party, Samyabadi Dal and Gonotantric Majdoor Party favoured employing the administration to foil the BNP-led combine's anti-government agitation.

Ruling AL leaders endorsed the idea of using the administration to contain the BNP-led movement.

The meeting decided that besides administration, leaders and activists of the 14-party alliance would assist law enforcers, said meeting sources.

Briefing reporters about the outcome of the meeting, 14-party spokesperson and AL presidium member Mohammad Nasim said they decided to form committees in every locality in accordance with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's announcement.

HT Imam on dialogue with BNP

The prime minister's Political Affairs Adviser HT Imam set three preconditions for holding talks with the BNP-led combine.

“For a dialogue, the BNP will have to pledge in writing that it will stop terrorist activities, cut ties with militants and approach the government courteously.”

Only then the government would consider it, he said at a seminar in the capital.

He, however, ruled out the possibility of an interim election.

Imam, also an AL advisory council member, said, "The Supreme Court has declared Zia's regime illegal. Now it is to be seen whether the party he constituted during his regime can be legal.”

Asked about “the preconditions” HT Imam set for a dialogue with the BNP, two senior AL leaders, wishing anonymity, said it reflected Imam's personal views, not the party's.

The AL sub-committee for publicity and publication cell organised the seminar with the theme “Progress and a year of democracy” at the Engineers Institute in Dhaka.

Former Chittagong University vice chancellor Abdul Mannan presented the keynote paper while senior journalist Abed Khan and AL leaders Dipu Moni, Hasan Mahamud, Asim Kumar Ukil, among others, addressed the programme.