Khaleda agrees to drop bad elements from party, sit with Hasina

Commerce and Education Adviser Hossain Zillur Rahman briefing newsmen after four advisers to the caretaker government held talks with BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia last night. Photo: STAR

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia last night said she is ready to sit with Awami League (AL) President Sheikh Hasina and discuss how to promote fair competition in politics and do away with the culture of mudslinging.
She expressed her willingness to sit across the table with her archrival during talks with four advisers to the caretaker government at her cantonment residence.
The former prime minister who was released on bail Thursday after a year in detention also agreed to help rid politics of bad elements and draw up a code of conduct to ensure post-election stability.
Commerce and Education Adviser Hossain Zillur Rahman led the advisers to the talks that began at 9:30pm. The other members of the delegation were LGRD Adviser Anwarul Iqbal, Communications Adviser Ghulam Quader and Law adviser Hassan Ariff.
During over two-hour meeting, Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed called Khaleda and briefed her about the overall goals of his government. The conversation lasted 10 minutes.
Zillur said the BNP chief asked Fakhruddin to withdraw the state of emergency without delay and hold the ninth parliamentary election before upazila polls.
The CA and the BNP chairperson agreed to work in unison towards a peaceful and credible national election by December, he added.
Later, at a news briefing at an Old DOHS community centre, the advisers said they discussed a number of issues including the possibility of formal talks between the government and BNP and ways to ensure a level playing field for the general election .
“We've formally invited her [Khaleda] to dialogue with the government. She has consented to sit as soon as possible,” Hossain Zillur said, adding that the talks would be held by Sunday.
After the discussions, Khaleda entertained the advisers.
All major political parties except BNP and its ally Jamaat-e-Islami have had discussions with the government on electoral and other issues.
The BNP laid down conditions that the government must release Khaleda and her sons in order for the dialogue to take place.
Zillur said the recent developments have led to a mood of optimism among people.
“We have talked about how to get rid of those who have brought politics into disrepute,” added the adviser.
Replying to a query, he said they were working to get Hasina and Khaleda to sit down and discuss ways to take the country forward.
He quoted Khaleda as saying, “There could be competition between political parties, but they must cooperate with the government in the interests of the country.”
Heads of BNP and AL have not met and talked to each other for more than a decade, and many consider the bitter relations between the two as main obstacle to political stability in the country.
Asked if Khaleda would be able to contest the election, Zillur replied, “It's a premature question. The Election Commission is the authority to deal with the issue.”
Earlier on June 11, advisers held talks with Hasina at her Sudha Sadan residence in Dhanmondi, hours after her release on executive orders. During that meeting too the CA called the AL chief.