Ready for dialogue
Ready for dialogue
BNP tells European Parliament delegation
The BNP last night told the visiting delegation of the European Parliament's Subcommittee on Human Rights that it was ready for dialogue with the government to bring an end to the ongoing political crisis.
The party also said all the subversive activities during the crisis are being carried out by the government and it is doing so only to malign "the opposition's justified movement".
The six member delegation, led by vice-chair of the subcommittee Christian Dan Preda, sat with BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia at the latter's Gulshan office at around 6:30pm. The meeting continued for an hour.
"The current unelected government is the main reason behind the current political stalemate. So, we have made it clear that we want to resolve the political deadlock through talks. We are ready to sit with the government anytime,” BNP Standing Committee Member Nazrul Islam Khan, who was present at the meeting, told The Daily Star over the phone.
Apart from Nazrul, newly appointed EU Ambassador to Bangladesh Pierre Mayaudon and BNP chief's adviser Abdul Quayum were present at the meeting.
Though neither of the sides made any official briefing, Nazrul Islam Khan claimed a range of issues, including the country's political and human rights situation, extrajudicial killings and law enforcer's activities, were discussed in the meeting.
The BNP also told the delegation, which arrived in Dhaka on Monday night, that its movement was democratic and justified, he said.
At least 70 people have been killed, mostly in arson attacks, many more injured and hundreds of vehicles vandalised since the BNP and its allies enforced an indefinite countrywide blockade from January 6 demanding resignation of the government and a fresh election under a non-partisan government.
The BNP told the EU team that all the acts of violence were being carried out by government agents and that the BNP chief had repeatedly called for an investigation into the incidents, Nazrul told this paper.
"But the government is not doing so as those involved in the subversive acts are actually ruling party men," he added.