Initiate talks for all-party election

"> President Abdul Hamid and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia talk at the Bangabhaban yesterday evening. Photo: Focus Bangla BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia yesterday met President Abdul Hamid and urged him to take steps towards a consensus between the ruling and the opposition parties for holding a free, fair and participatory election under a non-party government.
In response, the president said his constitutional powers were limited with regard to taking any such initiative.
He, however, assured that he would do his best within his powers for resolving the ongoing political crisis.
“No government has incorporated any provision in the constitution that allows the president to take steps to overcome a critical situation,” Hamid was quoted as telling the opposition leader by his Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim at a press briefing at the Bangabhaban.
A 20-member delegation of 18-party alliance led by Khaleda held an hour-long meeting with the president at the Bangabhaban a day after eight new faces were inducted in the present cabinet to transform it into a polls-time government.
“We have come to you since you are the guardian of the state. It is our earnest request that you ask the government to shun the path of conflict and create an atmosphere conducive to holding dialogue,” read a statement that the BNP-led alliance submitted to the president.
“We are aware of your [President] constitutional limitations and powers .... But the supreme people of the state have to play a role under certain circumstances. We think such a situation has arisen today in our national life. People hope you will play such a role at this critical juncture,” said the statement whose copies were later circulated among reporters.
The opposition said it would neither participate in any unilateral election nor accept any initiative that would snatch the people's right to vote.
The 18-party alliance said the formation of the new interim government has only deepened the crisis.
It said there will be no level playing field if the election is not held under a non-party polls-time government.
“This is why we have long been demanding a non-party polls-time government,” said the opposition.
Briefing reporters after the meeting at the Bangabhaban, Ihsanul said the president told the 18-party leaders that both sides -- the Awami League and the BNP -- would have to come forward to initiate dialogue.
“A solution will come if negotiations take place. A dialogue will bring good to the nation. But both sides have to take initiatives. I am not in a position to make such move.
“I have to protect and preserve the constitution … the democratic process must continue,” the president was quoted by Ihsanul as saying.
The BNP chief's motorcade arrived in front of the Bangabhaban at 5:45pm. Khaleda waited outside it for nearly half an hour, as she reached there early.
The president received Khaleda after she got off her car at the Bangabhaban at 6:15pm. And the meeting began around 6:30pm.
Hamid entertained the delegation with snacks, fruit juice and sweets.
“He was very courteous. The meeting was held in a cordial and lively atmosphere. He was very patient and sincere in listening to us,” acting BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir told reporters outside the Bangabhaban.
The BNP chief later went to her Gulshan office and discussed with the alliance leaders the next course of action.
Despite the latest developments, the possibility of consensus among the two rival camps still looks thin.
Several senior leaders of the Awami League-led alliance once again rejected the opposition's proposal for making a non-partisan person the chief of polls-time government.
"Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will head the polls-time government according to constitutional provisions. It is not possible for the government to ignore the constitution," AL presidium member Kazi Zafarullah told The Daily Star.
Echoing the same view, a newly-inducted minister said the opposition requested the president to act beyond the constitution.
"The opposition knows well that the president cannot take any move beyond the constitution to resolve the crisis. But they met him to get political mileage," said the minister on condition of anonymity.
AL Joint General Secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif said, "There can be no talks over any unconstitutional demands. There is no scope for meeting any such demand from the BNP. The election will be held in line with the constitution."
A senior BNP leader said he believes the government would not change its stance on election-time government.
"We met Abdul Hamid so that we can tell people that we even requested the president to resolve the political crisis," said the BNP leader, asking not to be named.
The opposition alliance would resume its agitation programmes, including hartal and blockade, next week, he added.