The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Leaders of major political parties have termed the Chief Adviser's address to the nation disappointing. Some leaders, however, welcomed.

In their instant reaction after the televised speech of the Chief Adviser, they said there was nothing new about the existing problems of the country or its solutions in his speech.

Awami League acting president Zillur Rahman said the Chief Adviser's address to the nation disappointed the nation.

He said they hoped that the Chief Adviser would make things clear about the release of Sheikh Hasina but there was nothing about it in his speech.

The AL leader said the Chief Adviser did not say anything about the withdrawal of the state of emergency either.

"He announced the lifting of the ban on indoor politics. But we have to run door to door in the administration for permission if we want to gather more than 50," he said.

Secretary General of pro-Khaleda faction of BNP Khondoker Delwar Hossain said the entire nation has been disappointed at the CA's address to the nation.

"Hopes and aspirations of the people were not reflected in the Chief Adviser's address; rather it seemed that the Caretaker Government was advancing with its blueprint," he said.

He said there is no indication of the withdrawal of state of emergency, release of the two leaders and price spiral.

On the other hand, acting secretary general of pro-reformist faction of BNP Maj (Retd) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed welcomed the CA's address and termed is positive.

He said it has fulfilled the hopes and aspirations of the people.

Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheed said it is regretful that there is no effort to create a congenial atmosphere for the dialogue and holding the elections. He also regretted that there is no indication of the release of Sheikh Hasina and Begum Khaleda Zia and other political leaders.

Prof Muzaffer Ahmad, Chairman of the Trustee Board of Transparency International Bangladesh, said Monday Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed explained "everything" political parties wanted to know.

"The Chief Adviser announced a date and some possible agenda of dialogue. The matter of understanding was in the speech," he said.

Muzaffer said the CA did not clarify if talks would be held together with Jamaat-e-Islami.

He said the CA's speech was supplementary to the roadmap laid out by the Election Commission. "It cleared the government's position. It is a good thing," he said.

Prof Anwar Hossain, general secretary of Dhaka University Teachers Association, told bdnews24.com that the speech disappointed the nation.

"The nation expected a specific announcement on the withdrawal of the state of emergency," he said.