Ways still there for talks, deal

The BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami sought to overthrow the government by using the Hefajat-e Islam, Awami League General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam alleged yesterday.
“They [BNP-Jamaat] wanted to keep Hefajat [activists] for four days in the capital to oust the government. The BNP even had preparations to arrange food for the Hefajat [men] for four days,” he told a roundtable at the Jatiya Press Club in the capital.
The ruling AL organised the roundtable, titled “Political Violence and Chaos”, with HT Imam, an adviser to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in the chair.
Urging the BNP to sit for talks, Ashraf, who is also LGRD minister, said there were still ways to find a solution to the impasse over the process of holding parliamentary polls. “There is still a chance to sit for a dialogue and reach an agreement.”
Responding to former law minister Abdul Matin Khasru's proposal for enacting a law to ensure that parties which call hartals take responsibility for the resultant violence and killings, Ashraf said the judiciary should not be brought into political confrontation.
“Once courts get involved in resolving political confrontation, the result may not be good in future,” he added.
On the war crimes trials, the minister said they would continue and none would be able to hinder the process. "And the verdicts will be executed too."
Ashraf claimed his party would be "100 percent successful" in tackling the present political stalemate and there was nothing to be worried, as the AL was well-organised under Sheikh Hasina's leadership.
Attending the programme, former FBCCI president AK Azad urged Ashraf to sit with the BNP for a solution to the political chaos.
Sholakia Eidgah Khatib Farid Uddin Masud demanded a ban on Jamaat politics and punishment to all those who hurt the religious sentiments of the people.
AL Presidium Member Nooh-ul-Alam Lenin, Forest and Environment Minister Hasan Mahmud, lawmaker Sharier Alam, Bhorer Kagoj Editor Shyamal Datta, journalist Abed Khan, Sammilita Sangskritik Jote President Nasiruddin Yousuff Bacchu and women's leader Rokeya Kabir also spoke on the occasion.
'GO TOUGH'
The AL presidium, the highest policymaking body of the ruling party, yesterday suggested that the government go tough to contain violence in the name of political programmes.
The meeting at Gono Bhaban, with party chief Sheikh Hasina in the chair, discussed the country's political situation, the party's organisational matters and the presidential election, sources said.
The meeting spoke very highly of acting president Abdul Hamid, which, according to party insiders, was an indication that Hamid might become the next president.