The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Awami League Acting President Zillur Rahman, who was scheduled to contradict a point made by party Presidium member Amir Hossain Amu at a press conference after a meeting of the four Presidium members on Monday, eventually yesterday landed in the same conclusion that the political dialogue with the Government and political parties should be concluded within March.

Four influential Presidium members of the Awami League (AL) Amir Hossain Amu, Abdur Razzak, Tofail Ahmed and Suranjit Sengupta had a close-door meeting at the Eskaton residence of Amu on Monday.

Amu addressed a press conference at the same venue after the meeting, which triggered and sent a shivering pain down the spine of the party since all four of them were known as reformist.

Razzak, Tofail and Suranjit launched identical proposals for bringing about reforms in the party, politics, administration and the Constitution of the Republic separately last year, while Amir Hossain Amu, who openly backed them, was abroad for about one and half a year to help treat his ailing wife. Amu's wife died late last year.

The reform proposals announced by the three-AL Presidium members irked party Chief Sheikh Hasina as those challenged her authoritarian leadership, calling for democratisation of the party and free it from her family control.

Subsequently the rank and file got divided into two factions-pro-Hasina anti-reformist and reformist groups.

However, the arrest of Sheikh Hasina last year eventually reunited the AL leadership and its rank and file.

Zillur Rahman on Monday night told journalists that he addressed a press conference yesterday to clarify the party's position on the statement made by Amu, demanded of the Government to complete the dialogue within March.

Addressing a joint press conference at Zillur Rahman's Gulshan residence yesterday, the AL leaders requested the Government to conclude the dialogue process by next March otherwise, there is, no need of dialogue.

The party wanted the dialogue should be open for ensuring transparency.

Making the party's stand abundantly clear acting president Zillur Rahman told newsmen that they would not take part in the proposed dialogue with the government with pre-condition.

Responding to a query about close-door meeting of four reformist leaders of the party he said they are respectable and key-leaders of Awami League. There should be no misunderstanding about their meeting.

AL Presidium member Amir Hossain Amu, one of those in the close-door parley said it was not a formal meeting. Abdur Razzaq, another attendant at the meeting, said they are not interested in dialogue with the government with pre-condition.

Tofail Ahmed observed government should conclude the dialogue process within March. If it is not done, there is no need of dialogue, he said.

He said their stand would be communicated to the allies of 14-party combine within a few days.

The AL leaders were talking to newsmen while receiving donation for Sidr victims from different organisations.

Suranjit Sengupta, Begum Matia Chowdhury, Syed Ashraful Islam, Abdul Mannan, Aktaruzzaman, Sultan Mohammad Munsur, Adv Rahmat Ali, Prof Nazma Rahman, Col (Retd) Faruq Khan, Habibur Rahman Seraj, Maj Gen (Retd) Subid Ali Bhuiyan and Dr Dipu Moni were present on the occasion.