SM Mizanur Rahman :
Country sees no prospect of dialogue in the near future, rather the existing crisis may deepen further, observed noted political analysts.
Talking to The New Nation on Monday, Prof Sirajul Islam Chowdhury, Prof Emajuddin Ahmed and Prof Delwar Hossain said they do not see any possibility of talks between the ruling Awami League and Bangladesh Nationalist Party in the near future.
They said taking the lesson from the history Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia will have to find out a happy solution by backtracking from their respective rigid stance. Otherwise, country’s people will have to pay for it like in the past, they warned.
“I see no possibility of dialogue between the two political parties–Awami League and BNP in the near future,” said Prof Sirajul Islam Chowdhury.
He added the high commands of the two big political parties do not want dialogue as they feel it would not bring something good for them.
“While the ruling party is using law enforcers to combat the blockade supporters allegedly involved in subversive activities, arson attack and violence, the BNP is becoming more desperate to continue its ongoing anti-government programme,” added Sirajul Islam. Replying to a query he added as the two top leaders even do not want see each other faces, the dialogue still remains a far cry.
Professor Delwar Hossain said as the top two leaders can not expect any sort of defeat in the politics they do not want dialogue.
“As the top two leaders think if they sit for dialogue one will have to give space for other. But both the leaders don’t want to give even a little space. And they term the giving of space as defeat,” he said.
Former Dhaka University vice-chancellor Prof Emajuddin Ahmed, who is also known as leading pro-BNP professional, said he does not see any possibility of holding talks between Awami League and BNP as the high commands of the two parties do not believe that the power is not forever.
Expressing his disappointment at the failure of the political stakeholders to reach an agreement towards a democratic and fruitful dialogue, he said, “This stands as a disservice to the democratic aspirations of the people of country and feeds harmful instability and tragic violence.”
“We are deeply concerned by the deteriorating situation in the country. The two parties don’t have trust, confidence and respect towards each other. So that it is very simple equation that there is no chance for a dialogue,” the political analysts said.
Prime Minister’s Information Adviser Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury at a press conference on Monday said a process can be started for holding dialogue if what he terms BNP-Jamaat’s hooliganism and subversive activities are stopped.
However, Awami League’s senior leader Suranjit Sen Gupta rejected out right about holding of dialogue with BNP.
Lt Gen (Rtd) Mahbubur Rahman, a member of BNP standing committee, said branding their party as militant the government wants to mock with them.
“At first government will have to change its attitude towards BNP. We want talks but the government doesn’t want to see it to take place. The people will give befitting reply to AL’s mockery with BNP,” he said.
The sharp rise in political violence and subversive activities in the name of blockade recorded an alarming rise in the last 22 days killing at least 35 people creating widespread agony and a sense of panic among the people.
As the country was plunging into the abyss of a deep political crisis, its civil society members, teachers, businessmen, transport workers and owners as well as peace-loving people continued to put pressure on the two big political parties to shun the path of politics vengeance and give them some comfort by arranging talks.
Besides, foreign countries and donor agencies continued to urge the two political parties to settle the stalemate through holding a dialogue.
Meanwhile, the two former presidents of Bangladesh — Hussain Mohammad Ershad and AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury — requested the two political parties to sit for dialogue otherwise they would stage demonstration and hunger strike respectively.
Newspaper editors also requested the government to resolve the country’s current political standoff through discussions.
