The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Extending support to the official anti-graft and anti-terror drive, the CPB yesterday stressed for establishment of collective leadership of the President and Prime Minister through amending the Constitution, while the LDP preferred balance of power between the President and the Prime Minister.

The CPB also suggested the Government to hold dialogue with the representatives of citizens' and professional bodies side by side with that of the political parties. The LDP demanded immediate release of political detainees, against whom there is no specific charge.

Both the CPB and the LDP demanded withdrawal of all the nine restrictions from indoor politics, holding the trial of war criminals and lifting the state of emergency.

Top leaders of the CPB and LDP said this, while participating in the dialogue with the Government separately yesterday, the third day of the parley, at the Chief Adviser's Office (CAO).

Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed led the Government team of Advisers, while CPB President Manjurul Ahsan Khan and LDP President Dr Col (retd) Oli Ahmed each led seven-member delegations of their respective parties.

Appreciating the CPBs suggestion, Government's Spokesman, Education and Commerce Adviser Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman said the Government would hold dialogue with the citizens' and professionals' representatives in parallel with the political dialogue.

Addressing two joint press briefings after meeting with the CPB and LDP leaders, Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman said the Government wants to create a system in state power where check and balance were ensured.

"The Government wants to identify some areas of consensus in the competitive multiparty democratic structure to revitalise the national life in all senses-socially and economically," he told journalists in a joint briefing after a dialogue with CPB.

Dr Zillur said the focus of the Government is to ensure checks and balances of the two topmost constitutional posts-the President and the Prime Minister-in the delegation of power.

Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman termed both the dialogue sessions successful. "The talks were fruitful," he added.

Briefing journalists, CPB President Manjurul Ahsan Khan said the 1972 Constitution should be the base for forging a national consensus over the Government's proposal for having a national charter (Jatiya Sanad).

Manjurul said they also demanded that the Government immediately file cases of war crimes against detained Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Maulana Matiur Rahman Nizami and BNP leader Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury and other identified war criminals and debar them for contesting in the elections.

They also proposed introduction of proportional representation in Parliament to ensure institutional dominance instead of individual influence on both Jatiya Sangsad and politics.

The 26-point suggestions placed by the CPB include strengthening the ongoing anti-terrorism and ant-corruption drive, conducting the anti-corruption drive not only against political leaders but also against all professions, including administration, businesspeople, trade unions and media, creating an election atmosphere where there will be no influence of money and muscle power, withdrawal of all restrictions from holding political meetings, rallies and other activities, including trade union activities.

The CPB President termed the previous governments "terrorist and corrupt" as they sponsored terrorist acts and harboured corrupt elements.

About hartal and strike, he said some big parties in the past had misused hartal by frequently resorting to it but said it's (calling hartal) the right of the people, as it is practiced in many developed countries of the world. "Hartal and strike had a significant role in leading Bangladesh towards its independence and establishing democratic rights of the people," he added.

He said there is no guarantee that the country's major parties would not call hartal even if they sign any charter in this regard.

Dr Hossain Zillur said the main objective of the dialogue is to hold a meaningful election and ensure post-election stability in the country. "We need to think right now how to ensure post-election stability."

Referring to some proposals of CPB, he said there is something common in their proposals and Government's thinking.

The Adviser said the Government would think about dialogue on important economic issues with the political parties.

CPB General Secretary Mujahidul Islam Selim and other leaders Sahidullah Chowdhury, Prof MM Akash, Ruhin Hossian Prince, Ahsan Habib Lablu and Rebeka Saren, LGRD Adviser M Anwarul Iqbal, Communications Adviser Maj Gen (retd) Ghulam Quader, Law Adviser AFM Hassan Ariff were present both at the dialogue and the briefing.

The LDP placed a 30-point charter of demands during the dialogue's session. The demands include-an immediate end to the state of emergency and all restrictions on indoor political activity, trial of war criminals and a specific date for the national polls were among the demands.

The LDP asked the Government not to harass politicians if there was no specific allegation against them.

"Politicians are linked to the achievements of the country. Try them if there is any specific allegation against them. Release them if there is no allegation," Dr Oli Ahmed suggested the Government.

On restrictions on politics, he said, "Indoor politics is not possible under restriction. The Government has to withdraw all the restrictions."

"The Government has set elections for the third week of December, but people cannot trust it. So a specific date for the polls is necessary to make people election-focused."

The LDP leader said the election was not possible under state of emergency.

" We want some changes to the Constitution. Some amendments are needed to strike a balance of power, but we want to make the changes through Parliament, not otherwise."

Col Oli Ahmed said the LDP was not willing to sign any agreement with the Government. "We want unity on various issues, but there must be specific proposals for it." The LDP demanded "total freedom" for the press.

"Ninety-nine per cent people of the country, including the head of the Government and army chief agreed on the trial of war criminals. So the process should start now," he said.

Declaring war criminals, corrupt people, and black money holders ineligible to contest the national polls was one of the LDP demands.

"The key duty of the Government is to hold national polls, not the local polls," he emphasised

"But we have said that our agenda is to hold a free, fair and peaceful election and create a consensus on a specific set of proposals," the Adviser said.

The next sitting will be held with Islami Shshantantra Andalon on Thursday (May 29)

The political dialogue began on Thursday (May 22) with the Workers Party of Bangladesh and Bikalpadhara Bangladesh. The Government sat with Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (Inu) on Sunday.