The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

BNP Standing Committee member Chowdhury Tanvir Ahmed Siddiqui yesterday said that they were maintaining an informal contact with the caretaker administration for holding the second round of dialogue with the government.

" We expect that the government would settle all contentious political issues in the next dialogue with our party to get registered with the Election Commission (EC)," he told journalists at Gulshan in the city.

He claimed that they had been able to make the government understand their demands. But the government is still hesitant about some issues.

However, the Standing Committee Member of BNP hoped that the government will accept their demands in the interest of protecting democracy and welfare of the people and the country.

When asked on the progress of the party registration, Tanvir Siddiqui said everything was ready to get the party registered with the EC under the modified electoral law.

"EC has put some unnecessary conditions for the registration. We want those unnecessary points to go and we have made our position clear on that. We hope the government will give a decision on the disputed issues in the next dialogue," he added.

He said BNP is ready to contest the forthcoming parliamentary election on December 18.

"We want a congenial election environment. We are ready to cooperate with the government," he said adding that the government must understand that election won't be acceptable at home and abroad if it is held under the state of emergency.

It is mentioned that BNP on Tuesday held its first round of dialogue with Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed at his office and placed a seven-point demand.

BNP wants to hold another round of talks with the government before October 20. The EC has extended the date for party registration till October 20.

Withdrawal of state of emergency and release of detained party leaders and activists are among the demands of BNP to the government.