The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

The dialogue of BNP with the Government was on an agreement to hold the general polls on December 18 in participation of all political parties but there was disagreement on the issues of withdrawal of emergency and deferment of upazila polls.

During the three-hour dialogue started at 11:15am at the Chef Adviser's Office in the city, the BNP reiterated its demand for withdrawal of the state of emergency, which the government side felt should continue in a relaxed way.

On upazila elections, now scheduled for December 24, the party made mention of some difficulties in holding the polls within such a short period after the parliamentary polls, which the government felt were possible to overcome.

However, both the Government and BNP agreed to sit again soonest to settle outstanding issues.

Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed led the Government side in the talks while the BNP side was led by its Secretary General Khondoker Delwar Hossain.

Briefing reporters at the CA Office, both the government and BNP sides said the dialogue was held in a cordial environment on relating issues concerning the forthcoming polls.

BNP Secretary General Khondoker Delwar Hossain said they tabled seven-point demand without implementation of which holding a free and fair elections which was discussed by both sides.

He said they tabled seven-point demand without implementation of which holding a free and fair election, which was discussed by both sides.

The issues include, the state of emergency, upazila polls, the Representation of People Order (RPO), post-election stability, transition through a qualitative political change, level playing field for all political parties and delimitation of parliamentary constituencies.

"We think the implementation of the demands will help to create an electoral atmosphere. It is not possible to hold elections amid the state of emergency," he observed

Asked which issues were settled during the dialogue, he however, said the issues were not yet finalized. "It needs further discussion. It is difficult to say which demands have been met and which not. It can be ascertained after the final dialogue," he said.

He said, "We clearly apprised the government that BNP is very eager and serious about holding a fair and neutral elections on December 18."

"The government side assured us about the matter. More discussions would be held," he said.

Replying to a question on party registration with the Election Commission, he said the next dialogue will be held before the October 20 deadline for registration and hoped the issue would be solved then.

Adviser for Education and Commerce Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman, who is acting as government spokesperson on national dialogue, said the BNP demonstrated their positive attitude towards the present caretaker government's effort to ensure post-election stability for transition into a qualitative polity as well as establishing a corruption-free society.

Replying to a question, he said the perspective of state of emergency as well as application of emergency has been transformed as many provisions of the sate of emergency have been relaxed.

"It is urgent to remove all restrictions to pave the way for carrying out political activities freely and, similarly, it is also urgent to make sure that voters can exercise their franchise freely without fear.

Those things would be solved through discussions," he said.

The Adviser said both formal and informal dialogues and discussions would continue with political parties and stakeholders concerned to solve all the outstanding issues step by step.

Replying to a question, he said in the wake of the prevailing global financial crisis Upazila election is urgent to turn Bangladesh into a medium-income country through expediting economic activities down to the local levels.

About BNP's request to create level playing field through necessary transfer of the government employees, he said they requested the BNP to give them specific information if they have any idea over any person.

Adviser for LGRD M Anwarul Iqbal and Adviser for ommunications Maj Gen (Retd) Ghulam Quader were also present from government side at the dialogue.

The 13-member BNP delegation also include Saifur Rahman, RA Gani, Chowdhury Tanvir Ahmed Siddiqui, Khondoker Mahbub Uddin Ahmed, M Shamsul Islam, Sarwari Rahman, TH Khan, MK Anwar, Hannan Shah, Selima Rahman, Nazrul Islam Khan and Goyeshwar Chandra Roy.