The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

Chief Advisor Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed telephoned just-released ex-PM and Awami League president Sheikh Hasina as his Advisors and AL leaders held dialogue at her Sudha Sadan residence on Tuesday night.

During telephonic conversation, Hasina, who was released for an interim period, asked Fakhruddin to create the right environment for holding parliamentary polls according to the set election roadmap.

Hasina also asked the Chief Advisor to stop arrest of Awami League members and lift 'false' cases against them.

The head of the caretaker government assured her that his government "has been working to that end to fulfill the aspiration of the nation".

Earlier, four Advisors- Maj Gen (retd) Ghulam Quader, AF Hassan Ariff, Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman and Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury-held dialogue with the AL leaders for one hour and 15 minutes at Hasina's residence.

The meeting over, Dr Hossain Zillur and AL acting general secretary Syed Ashraful Islam told reporters that the final round of dialogue would be held on Sheikh Hasina's return after treatment abroad.

"This is a good beginning. An atmosphere of confidence has been created. We have come here to learn the concern of the Awami League," Zillur said, adding that Awami League spoke about a credible election as per the election roadmap.

He said the government would hold more than once dialogue with Awami League. "The government views talks with big parties like Awami League with importance as these parties ran government in the past," he said.

Dr Zillur said since these parties ran government, they have acquired lot of experience. "We are determined to maintain stable situation during and after the elections."

He hoped that the government would have successful dialogue with BNP like that with Awami League.

Dr Zillur said: "Our national tendency is to suspect one another. We will be able to remove that sense of distrust." He also hoped that a final round of dialogue would be held on her return from abroad.

Acting AL general secretary Syed Ashraful Islam said in the absence of Hasina, Awami League would join in the ongoing dialogue under the leadership of Zillur Rahman.

He asserted that Awami League's demand has been fulfilled as they joined the dialogue after the release of Sheikh Hasina.