The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Bangabir Kader Siddiqi yesterday said the visit of four advisers to the residence of Awami League chief Sheikh Hasina after her temporary release and their subsequent meeting with her were wrong moves.

"It was wrong on the part of the Caretaker Government to allow advisers to hold a meeting at the residence of Awami League President Sheikh Hasina after her release on June 11," he said during the dialogue of his party, Krishak Sramik Janata League (KSJL), with the Caretaker Government at the Chief Adviser's Office.

Kader Siddiqui said visit by the government high-ups to the residence of an accused suspect was a mistake and had created confusions in the public minds.

"The advisers did not do the right thing by going to Sheikh Hasina's home after her release. The government will have to be accountable for the action," he cautioned. Adviser for Education and Commerce Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman, however, told reporters that visiting the residence of Sheikh Hasina and holding meeting with her and the party was a part of the caretaker government's responsibility to bring about a political solution.

"We are very clear. We went there to accelerate the speed of the political discussion. We utilised the opportunity for beginning dialogue with the Awami League," he said while briefing reporters following the dialogue.

He said it was the government's responsibility to take effort to bring all at a place of political solution, which can advance the nation justly and properly and they were giving much attention to this responsibility.

"But someone might criticise or even doubt," he observed adding, "We will do whatever is needed for that. We are hopeful that all our activities will erase any doubts in future. All doubts will disappear in the course of time."

Speaking at the joint briefing, Kader Siddiqi, who led an 11-member delegation to the dialogue, however, welcomed the caretaker government's decision for temporary release of Sheikh Hasina for treatment abroad.

He said during the dialogue they have been ensured that the caretaker government would hold election in the third week of December as per its pledge and no member of the CG would take part in the next general election and the government would not compromise with any corrupt people.

Kader Siddiqui said they put forward a 28-point proposal to the government including trial of war criminals, imposing embargo on the politics of Jamaat-e-Islami, lifting the state of emergency and return of the armed forces to barracks as early as possible.

The proposals also included making parliament effective by giving due importance to Members of Parliament not dictatorship of Leader of the House, inviting more smaller political parties to the dialogue, taking steps to arrest price spiral of essentials and meeting electricity demand.

Asked whether the BNP imposed any condition to join the dialogue with the government, Hossain Zillur replied in the negative.

He said the government's invitation, interest and efforts to encourage BNP to join dialogue would continue.

The Adviser said the main target of the dialogue is to create consensus on some issues and areas of consensus are being cleared gradually.

He said the summary of proposals or demands of the political parties in the dialogue would be placed before the people at a certain stage.

Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed and two advisers concerned were present at the 23rd dialogue.

KSJL general secretary Habibur Rahman, Nasrin Kader Siddiqi, Khaleda Habib, Kamaluddin Ahmed, Hamidul Huq, Iqbal Siddiqi, Farid Ahmed, Humayun Kabir and Abdullah, among others, were present at the dialogue and press briefing.