Staff Reporter :
The ruling Awami League has categorically said that violence and dialogue cannot go simultaneously and so, the BNP must stop its ongoing violence before sitting for a dialogue.
The AL conveyed its message to the visiting European Parliament delegation during a meeting with a group of senior AL leaders at party chief’s Dhanmondi political office in the city at about 3:30 pm on Thursday.
After the meeting, PM’s political adviser Gowhar Rizvi told the newsmen that the EP delegation was briefed about the government’s present stance over the dialogue. “When they [EP] raised election issue, we [AL] conveyed the EP team that the ruling party will discuss the electoral system and empowerment of Election Commission when the election time comes,” Gowhar Rizvi said.
He said, “But the discussion must be held in accordance with democratic norms and country’s constitution. However, at this state, the government is not thinking anything except stopping the ongoing violence….We also have conveyed this message to EP.”
The EP delegation, however, refrained from making any comment over the meeting to the newsmen.
Led by Christian Dan Preda, other members of the delegation Joseph Wilde Holzer, Martin Gasiwick, Laventic Casus, Brigitte Bateiley and EU Ambassador in Dhaka Pierre Mayaudon, were present in the meeting.
On the other hand, led by AL general secretary and LGRD Minister Syed Ashraful Islam, PM’s political adviser HT Imam, PM’s economic adviser Moshiur Rahman, joint general secretary Dr Dipu Moni, secretary on international affairs Faruq Khan, PM’s special assistant Dr Abdus Sobhan Golap and Ashim Kumar Ukil were present on behalf of the Awami League.
