The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

Although the government-political party formal dialogue hangs in limbo, there has been a general consensus among key parties on three major points during the Advisers' pre-dialogue talks in the past few weeks.

The key points upon which Awami League, BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami and left-leaning political groups made identical proposals include holding of parliamentary elections before any other elections, lifting of the state of emergency and the release of former Prime Ministers Sheikh Hasina and Some splinter groups like Bikalpa Dahara of Prof Badruddoza Chowdhury, Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) of Col (retd) Oli Ahmed, JSD led by Abdur Rab, Progressive Democratic Party of Ferdous Ahmed Querishi and Kalyan Party of Maj Gen (retd) Syed Mohammad Ibrahim made different views on these three crucial points.

However, Awami League, BNP and Jamaat that ruled the country since

1991 in turns demanded the release of Hasina and Khaldea first so

they can participate in the formal dialogue with the government and

make it a success.

These parties opposed the holding of local boy elections before the parliamentary elections. They also demanded withdrawal of a 16-month-old state of emergency to create an atmosphere conducive to electioneering.

Bikalpa Dhara president Badruddoza Chowdhury favoured local body election prior to national election while HM Ershad's Jatiya Party and Ferdous Querishi's PDP opined that the national elections could be held under the emergency.

Five Advisers - Hassan Ariff, Maj Gen (retd) Ghulam Quader, Anwarul Iqbal, Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury and Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman- held the pre-dialogue talks with these parties in a bid to create a ground for the formal dialogue which was earlier expected to be held this month.

The pre-dialogue talks with BNP loyal Khaldea Zia were scheduled for Wednesday last, but it was later re-fixed for today.

Although the pre-dialogue interactions with parties were almost complete, the government side cannot say when the formal dialogue will start. The Advisers had earlier given clear indications that it would be held within this month, but now they cannot exactly say when it would be held.

Education and Commerce Adviser Dr Hossain Zillur told reporters Wednesday that the Advisers would submit a report on the outcome of their consultations to the Chief Adviser and his Council of Advisers for consideration.

What is important that at the initial stage of pre-dialogue talks the Advisers also gave a hint that the issue of freedom of Hasina and Khaleda will come into consideration at the formal dialogue. But recent remarks by Home Affairs Adviser Maj Gen (retd) MA Matin that the government was not thinking about sending Hasina abroad disappointed the Awami league negotiators.

Awami league leaders criticised what they called the government's double standard on the question of Sheikh Hasina and called for clearing the government stance about her.

Last week acting Awami league president Zillur Rahman declared that his party would not participate in the elections without Sheikh Hasina's presence.

BNP secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain demanded resignation of the incumbent 3-member Election Commission and declared to boycott the elections under this "biased" Commission.

Political observers say after perceiving the clear stands of Awami league, BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami on three major issues, Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed may not be encouraged to sit for the formal dialogue. If the dialogue is held at all, the observers say, it would not be productive at the end of the day without reaching a consensus on these three points.

Realising the government's mind through its remarks and body language, Awami League leaders have decided to observe countrywide mass hunger strike on April 29 before going for a bigger movement to meet their demands.

BNP chairperson's adviser Brig gen (retd) Hannan Shah also stated that their party would draw up action plans reflecting the sentiment of their party leaders and workers alongside their efforts to have Beum Zia released through legal means.