Special Correspondent :
Under the cover of hard line and defiant political stance of the government and the opposition, as blockades and hartals continue to hit the nation hard killing innocent people in bomb blasts and indiscriminate police action, the first sign of an attempt to work out a reconciliation came to visibility last night in the capital.
TV reports said several front ranking government leaders gathered at the residence of the ambassador of the European Union at Baridhara in the city and although, the subject matter of discussion was not public, it is everyone’s guess what may the topic on the table.
It must be an exchange of views initiated by the EU mission in Dhaka with the ruling party leaders as to how the ongoing political crisis may be resolved before too late leaving the common people to die in the streets in escalating violence. It appears that the EU ambassador Pierre Majaudon invited the ruling party leaders for the talks where head of the Department for International Development (DFID) of the British government Sara Cooke and Canadian High Commissioner Benoit-Pierre Laramee were also present. The Australian High Commission and resident representative of United Nations also attended the meeting.
The Awami League leaders who attended the meeting included law minister Anisul Haque, former law minister Abdul Matin Khosru, Suranjit Sengupta MP, Abdul Majid MP, and former state minister for home Shamsul Haque Tuku. Besides, opposition chief whip Tajul Isalm accompanied them.
The movement of the diplomats is indicative of getting the stone of political crisis moving and it may be that they will meet the opposition leaders soon to find out a common ground of starting the crucial talks to end the crisis.
Earlier some diplomats of European Union listed countries and Canadian High Commissioner had gathered at the residence of BNP standing committee member Dr Moyeen Khan but they declined to comment on discussion.
BNP leaders were also tight lipped. Meanwhile, the newly arrived US ambassador to Dhaka Marcia Stephens Bloom Bernicat met Indian High Commissioner here at a time President Barrack Obama and Indian Prime Minister Narendra modi held discussion on Bangladesh crisis in a bid to finding a solution to it.
Meawhile, Bernicat reportedly held meeting with the envoys of Autralia, Canada, Netherlands and some other countries and exchanged views on the deteriorating situation and how to end the standoff between the government and the opposition.
BNP led 20-party opposition is demanding immediate elections in the country to end
the legitimacy question of the government arising out of January 5 unilateral election. The government is opposed to it before five years. Reports also said the Indian High Commissioner and Russian ambassador in Dhaka held meeting recently at a time the European diplomats talked with BNP leaders at Dr Moyeen Khan’s residence.
It appears that a lot of diplomatic endeavors are at work to get the ice melting and the stone rolling. The meeting at EU ambassador’s residence last night of senior Awami Lague leaders may look like a breaking point that may lead to opening of discussion either directly or indirectly between the rival camps.
People are waiting for a breakthrough and restoration of peace.
