Govt walking on tight rope
A key adviser to the military backed caretaker government said yesterday that the ongoing process for 'qualitative transition' through political reforms and meaningful elections has been a 'walk on a tightrope'.
"Implementing our declared qualitative transition by holding the election by December and by having dialogues with political parties has hardly been a bed of roses. It has rather been a walk on a tightrope," Commerce and Education Adviser Hossain Zillur Rahman told reporters in Bangladesh Secretariat in the capital.
He made the comment after holding a meeting with Law Adviser AF Hassan Ariff and Public Works Adviser Ghulam Quader there. Ghulam Quader is leading a five-member panel of advisers in the dialogues between political parties and the government.
Zillur said there are numerous milestones, large and small, on the path of transition. "We have to cross all milestones one after another," he said adding that his government is determined to achieve its goals.
"There is no alternative to the declared path of transition to democracy," he added.
Zillur however said the ongoing reform process still has a long way to go and everyone including the political parties should come forward and play their due roles to make it a success.
"The government alone can't achieve the goals, the role of political parties are very important here," the adviser said.
Talking about the government's desired dialogue with BNP, he emphasised on the entirety of the issues rather than piecemeal dealing with those. "We have to go ahead with all the issues in hands and that's very important."
He said efforts are on to sit in a dialogue with BNP. "In that regard, we advanced well with Awami League (AL) and hope to do the same with BNP too," a hopeful Zillur told reporters.
Replying to a question, he said the government will take extra measures to bring BNP to a dialogue. "We are ready to make all kinds of efforts."
When informed about BNP Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain's ignorance about any such move by the government, Zillur said, "It is not important what a single person is saying."
The military backed government held dialogues with all major parties, excepting BNP and Jamaat, who are demanding release of detained BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia as a precondition for sitting with the government.
Adviser Ghulam Quader however said on Monday that Khaleda will be released soon.
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