Nagorik Samaj pushes for talks

Nagorik Samaj, a platform of civil society members, yesterday sent three letters to the president, the prime minister and the BNP chairperson, requesting them to take initiatives for holding a national dialogue to resolve the ongoing political crisis.

The letters were signed by former chief election commissioner ATM Shamsul Huda on behalf of the platform.

The letters mentioned that a views-exchange meeting of people from different professions was held at the Engineers' Institute on February 7, where the participants unanimously adopted a proposal on holding “a national dialogue to resolve the national crisis”.

The proposal of the meeting was also sent along with the letters.

“I humbly request you as the guardian of the People's Republic of Bangladesh to play a special role in taking a noble initiative for holding a dialogue in light of the proposal,” reads the letter sent to the president.

In the letters, the Nagorik Samaj also requested the prime minister and the BNP chief to take initiatives for holding talks considering the proposal.

Talking to the BBC Bangla Service, PM's Political Affairs Adviser HT Imam last night said they were not giving importance to this initiative at this moment as the roles of the persons involved in this process were questionable, except for ATM Shamsul Huda.

“You cannot sit for talks with the people who are carrying out attacks, killing innocent people and destroying the country's economy,” he said.

BNP standing committee member Lt Gen (retd) Mahbubur Rahman said he thought his party would take the initiative of the Nagorik Samaj positively.

Contacted, Shamsul Huda did not want to elaborate on the matter, but said, “We are working silently and with caution as there are many quarters that may try to foil this initiative.”

Nagorik Samaj under the banner of Jatiya Oikya Prokriya (national unity process) had organised the meeting where distinguished personalities expressed the need for taking initiatives for holding a national dialogue to come out of the ongoing crisis.

Eminent jurist and Gono Forum President Dr Kamal Hossain, former CEC ATM Shamsul Huda, former caretaker government advisers -- Dr Akbar Ali Khan, CM Shafi Sami, Rasheda K Chowdhury, former Bangladesh Bank governor Salehuddin Ahmed, former IGP Nurul Huda, advocate Shahdeen Malik and CPB President Mujahidul Islam Selim, among others, spoke on the occasion.