Talks without BNP possible

The prevailing crisis can be solved through dialogue between the government, and social organisations and political parties, excluding the BNP-led 20-party alliance, said Udbigna Nagorik Samaj, a group of citizens led by economist Dr Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad, yesterday.

The parties perpetuating terrorism should be left out of dialogue, Dr Abul Kashem, general secretary of Bangladesh Peace Council, told a discussion of the group in the capital's Cirdap auditorium.

The speakers said the main cause of the conflict was not election but the ideological difference between pro- and anti-liberation forces. Editor of Bhorer Kagoj Shyamal Dutta, Chief Editor of Ekattor TV Mozammel Babu and President of Institute of Diploma Engineers AKMA Hamid also spoke.