Staff Reporter :
The ruling Awami League (AL) will sit in a dialogue with newly formed opposition Jatiya Oikya Front over next general election.
AL General Secretay Obaidul Quader and Road Transport and Bridges Minister, came up with the disclosure at a media briefing held at the AL’s president’s political office in Dhanmondi on Monday.
“Awami League President Sheikh Hasina would lead the party in the dialogue with the Jatiya Oikya Front. But the date, time and venue of the dialogue are yet to be fixed,” he said.
He, however, said, Oikya Front leaders will soon be informed about the meeting schedule.
Sources said the dialogue would be held on Wednesday evening at the Prime Minister’s official residence ‘Gonobhaban’.
They said Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader talked to Gono Forum General Secretary Mustafa Mohsin Montu over the dialogue at about 8pm on Monday night.
Confirming the matter, Mostafa Mohsin Montu told media that the Obaidul Quader called me today saying the dialogue might be held tomorrow (Wednesday).
The AL General Secretary also talked bout the list of delegation members who will join the meeting with the Prime Minister. “I said the number could be more than 15. We will send the list tomorrow followed by a meeting of Jatiya Oikya Front.”
Quader said after the Cabinet meeting on Monday, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina sought the opinion of cabinet AL
After the consultation with her Cabinet members it was decided to sit in talks with Jatiya Oikya Front.
“The Front wants to sit with AL over the next election. And I, on behalf of our party president, would like to say that the door of Sheikh Hasina will not be closed for anyone,” he said.
When the journalists tried to draw his attention on other issues, Quader said, “There is no issue bigger than what I have announced. I will not speak on any other topic.”
On Sunday, a delegation of Oikya Front with a letter to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina went to Awami League president’s Dhanmondi office, urging the ruling party to engage in dialogue over the election.
Oikya Front also sent another letter to Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader.
Kamal Hossain signed the letter sent to the Prime Minister while Gono Forum General Secretary Mostafa Mohsin Montu signed the one sent to Obaidul Quader.
In the letter, Kamal Hossain mentioned Oikya Front’s seven-point demand and 11 goals to overcome the current political situation.
On October 13, BNP together with Kamal Hossain-led Jatiya Oikya Prakriya, JSD and Nagarik Oikya launched the Jatiy Oikya Front to press for their seven-point demand.
The Oikya Front’s seven-point demand includes installation of a neutral interim government, dissolution of parliament, reconstitution the Election Commission, release of all the political prisoners, deployment of army and cancellation of the move to use Electronic Voting Machines for holding the next polls in fair and acceptable manner.
