The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

The Awami League will join the Government-sponsored political dialogue on July 3 keeping the issue of holding Parliamentary Election by December on top of the agenda.

Awami League Acting General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam yesterday disclosed this after a presidium meeting at the Gulshan residence of Awami League Acting President Zillur Rahman.

He informed the reporters that Kazi Md Aminul Islam, secretary to the Chief Adviser's Office, confirmed the schedule over telephone to the party.

The dialogue will begin at 11.00am on that day, Ashraful noted.

Ashraful said, "The Awami League will hold bilateral talks with its allies including the Workers Party of Bangladesh, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (Inu), Gano Azadi League, Ganotantrik Party, Communist Kendra and Samyabadi Dal before joining the dialogue."

"We will fix a common set of proposal to submit to the Government on the dialogue", he added.

Replying to a question Ashraful dismissed the possibility of holding meeting with the 'Gono Forum' because of some ideological difference.

"We demand national election first and a complete lifting of emergency rule before the polls", Ashraful reiterated the party's demand.

Replying to a query wheatear the Awami League would take part in the local polls before the national polls, Ashraful said " We will take decision through working committees meeting after the declaration of schedule of local government."

About the preparation for the forthcoming election Ashraful said, " We have enough skilled, efficient and qualified candidates for each constituency of the parliamentary.

Presidium members Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury, Abdur Razzak, Tofail Ahmed, Suranjit Sengupta and Matia Chowdhury were present at the meeting.