The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

Awami League leadership yesterday refused to sit for pre-dialogue talks with the caretaker government despite receiving proposal over telephone from Commerce and Education Adviser Dr Hossain Zillur as the party earlier had decided not to talk without having formal invitation.

AL was scheduled to sit for informal talks with the government at 5:30pm today at state guesthouse Padma, but the party-presidium members Wednesday decided that it wouldn't join the talks without formal letter from the government side.

"Hossain Zillur called me requesting to sit with the government for pre-dialogue talks today at about 2pm, but I told him that we will not join the talks without formal letter," acting party president Zillur Rahman told reporters at his Gulshan house.

He was speaking while leaders of Munshiganj district's Sirajdikhan upazila Awami League met him and handed over cash one-lakh taka for legal assistance to detained party chief Sheikh Hasina.

"We have several problems, both external and internal, to sit with the government without receiving formal letter and now we are waiting to get the letter," Zillur said.

After receiving the letter, they will discuss among themselves the issues of the talks and then join the meet.

Responding to a query about the latest health condition of the ailing AL chief and ex-PM, Sheikh Hasina, he alleged the government is playing a hide-and-seek game with them over her health.

"Sheikh Hasina was taken to hospital several times and that proved that she is critically ill," the acting president said and again demanded of the government to send her abroad for better treatment on humanitarian grounds.

Zillur said the party is trying hard to send Sheikh Hasina abroad but the government "doesn't pay heed" to their request.

He warned the government that it is not possible to retain power through "repression and harassment rather it needs people's love and favor".

Asked about the High Court verdict that dismissed the writ petition filed by BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia challenging the validity of the EC invitation to talks on electoral reform, AL presidium-member Tofael Ahmed said they hope that the Commission now would take a "pragmatic" decision in this regard.

AL leaders Matia Chowdhury, Syed Ashraful Islam, Abdul Mannan, Dr Dipu Moni and Sagupta Yesmin Eamili and Munshiganj AL leaders Mahiuddin Ahmed and Nazmul Alam Khan were present.