The New Nation - Internet Edition

Shahidul Islam

Two major political parties-the BNP and Awami League-will join the political dialogue recently proposed by Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed, party sources said yesterday.

The Awami League (AL) will join the dialogue keeping its President Sheikh Hasina in prison as per directives, while BNP faction led by its Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain will press for release of the detained party Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia before the talks.

Sources close to Khandaker Delwar Hossain told The New Nation yesterday evening that they would seek directives on this issue from Begum Khaleda Zia, when she comes out of prison on parole to attend her mother-Begum Taiyeba Majoumder's funeral today or tomorrow. Begum Taiyeba Majumder died at Zia Heart Foundation Hospital in Dinajpur last night.

However, the BNP faction led Acting Chairman M Saifur Rahman and Acting Secretary General Major (retd) Hafizuddin Ahmed will join the talks without any pre-condition.

The AL Presidium, the highest policymaking body of the party, yesterday at a meeting decided to join the political dialogue in consultation with the leaders other component political parties of the 14-party alliance, which it leads, and likeminded professional groups.

AL Acting President Zillur Rahman, who presided over the Presidium meeting at his Ivy Tower residence at Gulshan in the city last evening, told journalists earlier in the afternoon that Sheikh Hasina on Thursday directed them to take part in the dialogue and the upcoming general election keeping her in prison.

He said the detained Prime Minister also directed the AL to take part as per the polls roadmap announced by the Election Commission (EC) earlier. Sheikh Hasina gave the directive while talking to Zillur Rahman, who was present in the Court of Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge on Thursday morning as her lawyer.

Referring to his conversation with Sheikh Hasina, Zillur Rahman dropped a broad hinted that the former Prime Minister has backtracked from her demand for holding the general by April.

"Election is the only way to handover power and for that our leader Sheikh Hasina sought early elections," he said, adding, "The Awami League wants fair elections and we have accepted the election roadmap without raising any question."

Zillur Rahman said, "Sheikh Hasina does not want election to be obstructed in any way as the Awami League does not believe in transfer of power at gunpoint, coup or revolution."

Earlier on Thursday, he said Sheikh Hasina had directed him to immediately convene meeting of the party Presidium to decide about joining the dialogue and general elections without her.

Echoing the same view, AL Acting General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam told journalists after the Presidium meeting last night that his party would join the dialogue, as it was the AL's proposal.

"The Presidium will sit again after receiving formal dialogue proposal from the Government and we will join the talks following a meeting of the Central Working Committee," he said, terming the conversations between Food Adviser AMM Shahwkat Ali and AL Presidium member Begum Matia Chowdhury as 'personal contact'.

The AL Presidium met following the Shawkat-Matia telephonic conversation during which the Adviser sought the AL views about the proposed dialogue.

When his attention was drawn to Zillur Rahman's comment about the polls roadmap, which said the election will be held within December this year, and Sheikh Hasina's demand for polls within April, Syed Ashraful Islam said, "The Awami League demanded for the early elections if the preparation of the voters' list is completed by that time."

The AL Acting General Secretary urged the Government to refrain from setting any pre-condition for the political dialogue. He said they would not join the talks if called together with Jamaat-e-Islami.

When contacted, BNP Acting Secretary Major (retd) Hafizuddin Ahmed said they would try to meet Begum Zia when she comes out of prison for attending her mother's funeral but would not set any pre-condition for joining the dialogue.

BNP (Pro-Delwar) Joint Secretary General Nazrul Islam Khan said they would join the talks with the Election Commission after disposal of writ petition pending with the High Court.

"We have moved the High Court for joining the talks with the Commission," he said they would seek directive from Begum Zia for joining the political dialogue or not.

A highly placed official source said the Government would hold the dialogue after the conclusion of the Election Commission's talks with the political parties.