The New Nation - Internet Edition

Shahidul Islam

With the yesterday's Awami League Presidium's decision to finalise decision about the formal dialogue after May 26 extended meeting of its National Committee and the announcement made by the BNP (reformist) group and Jatiya Party (Ershad) to join the moot, policymakers of the Government are hopeful that all the major political parties would ultimately join the talks.

BNP (anti-reform) Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain yesterday refused to accept the Government's invitation letter for joining the political dialogue because it did not mention his party designation. He, however, would not say whether he would join the dialogue if another letter with correction of the mistake reaches him. Both the AL and the anti-reform faction of the BNP are pressing on release of their respective party chiefs-the two detained Prime Ministers-Sheikh Hasina and Begum Khaleda Zia-as the primary pre-condition for their joining the talks.

The Jamaat-e-Islami is expected to clarify its position about the talks at a press briefing this afternoon in the changed scenario against the backdrop of the party chief Maulana Matiur Rahman Nizami's arrest and imprisonment.

The Government will begin the much-talked about dialogue with political parties on May 22 with two smaller components of the Awami League (AL)-led 14 party alliance-the Workers Party and JSD (Inu) since major parties-the AL and the anti-reform BNP faction led by Khandaker Delware Hossain were putting pre-conditions for their joining the formal parleys.

Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed will lead the Government side, while respective party Chiefs or Acting Chiefs are expected to lead their sides at the talks that would be held at the Chief Adviser's Office (CAO) in the capital with an official aim to work out a National Charter about the future CGovernance, politics and economy on the basis of consensus that would be signed by the

leaders of the interim administration and all the participating political parties.

Workers Party (WP) President Rashed Khan Menon and JSD (Inu) President Hasanul Haq Inu will lead an equal seven-member delegation of their respective parties on the inaugural day's (May 22) dialogue separately.

Briefing journalists after meeting of the AL Presidium, the highest policymaking body of the party, yesterday General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam said the AL Central Working Committee (ALCWC) would take the final decision after the extended meeting of the National Committee, which would also be attended by former MPs and Presidents and General Secretaries of all district committees as well as front organisations, on May 26.

When his attention was drawn to the regular assertions by the senior AL leaders that the party would not join the political dialogue unless party President Sheikh Hasina was released and allowed to lead the party delegation to the talks, Syed Ashraful Islam said, "The decision will be finalised by the Central Working Committee not by the deliberations of the leaders. We have already asked the district committees to send their suggestions in written form on the issue before the May 26 extended meeting."

It, however, could not be ascertained as to whether detained Sheikh Hasina, who earlier directed the party leadership to make the dialogue successful, has sent a new message to party leaders on Sunday, when she attended the Special Judge's Court-1 in the capital.

Meanwhile, senior AL leaders yesterday held a bilateral meeting with the Workers Party (WP) at the AL Acting President Zillur Rahman's Gulshan residence with him in the chair as part of its programmes to exchange views with components of the 14-party alliance.

WP President Rashed Khan Menon told journalists after the meeting that his party would join the dialogue and place the demand for the release of Sheikh Hasina.

Both the AL and WP agreed at the meeting that the political dialogue would not be meaningful without the participation of Sheikh Hasina, said Zillur Rahman, who earlier presided over the AL Presidium meeting at the same venue. The AL will sit with the JSD (Inu) today.

In the meantime, BNP (reformist) Acting Secretary General Maj (retd) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed yesterday said he received the invitation letter on Sunday night although the letter also made no mention of his designation. "I don't mind whether the party designation is there in the letter or not," he said, while his faction's senior leader Maj Gen (retd) ZA Khan said they would join the talks.

Addressing a party gathering yesterday, Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad said his party would join the dialogue with the Government but would not sign the Natinal Charter. "We will join the dialogue to achieve a specific polls dates and the Government readiness to help the Election Commission to hold a free and fair elections," he said, asserting, "The National Charter, if any, should be framed by the political parties on the basis of consensus after discussion between them not with the un-elected Government."

Meanwhile, sources close to the leadership of the Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh (BDB), Gano Forum, Progressive Democratic Party, Krishak Sramik Janata League, NAP (Mozaffar), Shamyobadi Dal, Ganotantree Part, Kalyan Party, Islami Oikya Jote (Aminee), Islami Shsahantantra Party and Khelafat Majlish said these parties would join the dialogue that would be also participated by the different civil society bodies, including business leaders.

When asked yesterday night, sources close to the Advisers, assigned by the Chief Advisers to maintain contacts with the political leaders, said the Government was hopeful that all the major political parties would ultimately join the talks.

"We are in constant touch with the political parties and I am hopeful," Commerce and Education Adviser Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman said.