The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

The three-hour long parley of secretaries general of BNP and Jamaat with detained former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia at the sub jail has created a furore in the political circle.

Leaders of different political parties, particularly the Awami League and left leaning parties criticised the meeting branding it a Government conspiracy to bring back the BNP-Jamaat alliance to power through a compromise.

However, senior BNP and Jamaat leaders see nothing wrong with the meeting as the Government felt the necessity for holding such a parley to break the prevailing political impasse.

While rejecting the allegation of compromise with the Government they said that any compromise was out of the question.

Awami League Presidium Member Matiya Chowdhury told a private TV channel that the Government allowed them to meet with detained BNP chief to pave the way for handing over power to them by strengthening the four-party alliance.

Workers Party President Rashed Khan Menon said the meeting was arranged as part of rehabilitation of the four-party alliance in the political arena.

Acting General Secretary of Awami League Ashraful Islam told reporters that it was not an ordinary meeting.

"The three-hour meeting with the detained leader means that there was an entente between the Government and the BNP-Jamaat alliance," he alleged.

Meanwhile, BNP Vice President MK Anwar yesterday told reporters Khaleda Zia would not buy her freedom through any understanding or compromise with the Government.

"She would come out free soon through legal process," he said while talking to reporters after a meeting at the NAM flat of BNP secretary general Khondoker Delwar Hossain.

He said that BNP would not take part in the forthcoming parliamentary elections under the state of emergency even after the release of the party Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia and her son Tarique Rahman.

"It was the responsibility of the Government to create the environment for our participation in the polls," he said.

Outspoken BNP leader Brig Gen (Retd) ASM Hannan Shah said, "It is out of question to get involve in any entente with the Government."

He said the BNP Chairperson would be freed through legal process.

BNP reformist leader Maj (Retd) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed said that he considers it as a positive sign.

"We are waiting for the release of the party chief Khaleda Zia. Immediately after her release, the party's various factions would be united under her leadership," he said.

It may be mentioned that BNP Secretary General Khondoker Delwar Hossain and Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheed met with the detained BNP Chairperson on Thursday.