The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

Commerce and Education Adviser Dr Hossain Zillur Sunday said his recent meeting with BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia focused on participation of the former premier's party in the forthcoming parliamentary elections and pre-election atmosphere about which some continue to air apprehension.

The adviser of the caretaker government, long engaged in doing the spadework like comprehensive reforms for holding the stalled elections, had a quiet parley with Begum Zia at her cantonment house last Friday, as her party still looked in two minds as to whether or not to go to the polls and raised various demands for creating the congenial situation.

"It was basically part of our continued contact to maintain an atmosphere of trust among ourselves. We must all be confident," he told reporters at his secretariat office.

He described the beginning of political parties' registration as a big step toward towards participation in the elections, now slated for December 18.

"Doubt and uncertainty is our all-time companion. We're gradually overcoming this. We don't want to involve ourselves in unnecessary debates," said the adviser, who works as spokesman for the government in negotiations with the political parties in the current process of transition from the post-1/11 period of purge in the politico-electoral arena.

He hoped that there would be reflection of everybody's good thinking in the future and "our formal or informal contacts will be maintained".

The party of Begum Zia, the immediate-past PM who has recently been released on bail from prison, is yet to finally decide on their participation in the general election and wants to settle the score before saying yes.

They will sit with the caretaker government led by Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed on October 14 (Tuesday) to resolve the issues they have raised, including the revised RPO and graft cases against party leaders.