Dec 18 polls come first to AL

Awami League (AL) will look into the issue of dialogue between party President Sheikh Hasina and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia when it comes up later.
"We are now heading towards the December 18 election and we are busy with nomination process (for party candidates). When the question of dialogue (between the two top leaders) comes up next time, we will look into it," AL spokesman Syed Ashraful Islam told newsmen yesterday.
The party's nomination process is almost finalised, and candidates' names will be declared in a day or two after a meeting of the AL-led 14-party alliance on sharing of seats, he said.
"There is a matter of give and take with the alliance partners, and when those will be coordinated, we will declare candidates' names," said Ashraf, joint general secretary of the AL.
He was briefing newsmen after Pakistan High Commissioner Alamgir Babar met Hasina at her Sudha Sadan residence in Dhanmondi.
The AL chief and the Pakistan envoy discussed the upcoming parliamentary poll, and they agreed that the present crisis could only be resolved through the election.
Asked about his views about the December 18 poll, the envoy said it is an internal affair of Bangladesh. If it becomes acceptable to the people of this country, it would also be acceptable to his country.
He however added that the AL president was optimistic about the election.