Staff Reporter :
Awami League General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam has called upon BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia to create peaceful environment before demanding any dialogue.
“Give us a peaceful environment and then there may be a discussion. The next election will be held in due time according to the country’s constitution whether Khaleda Zia participates or not,” he said while addressing a press conference at Awami League President’s Dhanmondi political office on Saturday. AL General Secretary’s comment came a day after the BNP chief demanded talks for holding an inclusive election.
Commenting on Friday’s press conference of Khaleda Zia, he further said, “We are elected government. The election [of January 5, 2014] had taken place for constitutional obligations and it will continue in future.”
Requesting Khaleda Zia to withdraw blockade and hartal so that people can live a normal life, Syed Ashraf said, “We know where your patron is! Who are inspiring these terrorizing activities and where the directives are coming from?”
“There will be no dialogue with BNP if the arson attacks, vandalism and violence continue. No state in the world ever held a discussion with the terrorists. It will also not happen in Bangladesh. They have declared a war against the government….. We will also do the same,” he said.
“The way the whole world applies to resist anarchism, the same process will also be applied here. Khaleda’s movement is not for the election, it is only to assume power. The next election will be held in proper time under the constitutional framework,” he added.
The leaders and the activists of Awami League were present at the press conference.
Earlier on Friday afternoon, Khaleda Zia arranged a press conference and asked the government to take initiative for 15th constitutional amendment like 1996 to arrange a new election.
Raising questions, he said, “Why did not she take part in the 2014 election? There was no bar in the eyes of law. She didn’t participate as per her own wish, but now she besieged the whole nation. The next election will be in due time and if she does not take part in it, she will have to shoulder the responsibility alone, not the people.
