Pro-Saifur group wants to join dialogue

The pro-Saifur faction of BNP wants to participate in political dialogue with the caretaker government as mainstream BNP after disposal of the writ petition filed by the pro-Khaleda faction over electoral talks with Election Commission (EC).
The pro-Khaleda faction of the party is of the opinion that political dialogue is unnecessary as the only task of the caretaker government is to hold a free and fair election.
Khandaker Delwar Hossain, secretary general of BNP and a pro-Khaleda leader, filed the writ petition against the EC after the commission sent a letter to the pro-Saifur faction to hold electoral talks with it.
"We want to make preparation for holding political dialogue with the government as mainstream BNP. But before that disposal of the writ petition over electoral talks with the commission is necessary," said Lt Gen (retd) Mahbubur Rahman, a member of the party's standing committee.
Mahbubur, a pro-Saifur leader, also said the EC should play a key role in completing the legal process so that the issues regarding electoral reforms are settled after holding talks with BNP.
Meanwhile, the pro-Khaleda faction decided not to take part in the dialogue if their demands including the release of Khaleda Zia are not met.
"We said earlier that Khaleda Zia's presence is a must for our participation in the dialogue," BNP acting Office Secretary Rizvi Ahmed told The Daily Star yesterday.
Replying to a query, he said, "Dialogue is not necessary at all as the only task of the caretaker government is to hold a free and fair election.”
Party leaders said uncertainty looms large over BNP's participation in political dialogue with the government as pro-Khaleda faction will not hold dialogue without Khaleda Zia while the pro-Saifur faction wants it to be recognised as mainstream BNP.
The leaders of pro-Khaleda faction said the party would be able to take decision over holding dialogue and other important issues if BNP Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain is allowed to meet the detained party chairperson.
The EC issued a letter on October 5 inviting Maj (retd) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed as BNP representative for holding dialogue on electoral reforms with it on November 22.