Focus on Ganobhaban again; Kamal-Hasina talks Wednesday
Jatiya Oikyafront is set to sit with the Prime Minister again on Wednesday morning in its last-ditch effort to reach an understanding to hold the next general election in a credible manner with the participation of all parties.
Dr Kamal Hossain will lead the Oikyafront delegation during the talks with the Prime Minister at her official residence Ganobhaban at 11am.
A BNP leader said Dr Kamal may lead an 11-member Oikyafront team. BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, its standing committee members Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Moudud Ahmed, JSD president ASM Abur Rob, Nagorik Oikya Convenver Mahmudur Rahman Manna and Oikya Prokriya leader Sultan Mansur are likely to be there in the team.
Talking to UNB, Oikyafront leaders said their delegation will present various points as to how parliament can be dissolved as per the current constitution.
They will also place various proposals in line with the Constitution on how the President can form a new government after the dissolution of parliament.
The Oikyafront leaders said they will also offer some proposals to have Khaleda Zia released from jail to participate in the polls through legal steps.
They, however, said they will not accept if the government offers to free Khaleda on parole.
The Oikyafront will also demand for not announcing the election schedule until both the ruling and opposition alliances reach a consensus over the mode of the election-time government.
Meanwhile, senior Oikyafront leaders at a meeting at Suhrawardy Udyan today said they want the government to resolve the political problem and ensure a fair and neutral election through talks.
They, however, warned that they will realise their seven-point demand through a strong street movement if the government fails to come to an understanding trough talks.
In the latest political development, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina asked the four technocrat ministers of her current cabinet to step down as the Prime Minister may offer Oikyafront some ministries in the election time government.
Once the dialogue is over, the Prime Minister will deliver a winding-up speech over the outcomes of the ongoing political dialogue at a press conference at Ganobhaban at 12 noon on Thursday.
On November 1, a 23-member delegation of 14-party, led by Sheikh Hasina, sat in talks at Ganobhaban with Dr Kamal Hossain-led 20-member Oikyafront team.
After the meeting, Oikyafront leaders said they placed their seven-point demand before Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina but did not find any specific solution except some good words about rallies and meetings.
On Sunday, Kamal Hossain, on behalf of the Oikyafront, sent a letter to Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina seeking the second phase of small-group talks with her over the next general election.
In the letter, Dr Kamal Hossain said, "There was a discussion on Jatiya Oikyafront's seven-point demand during the talks at Ganobhaban on November 1 last. We sincerely thank you for taking the initiative for the talks. Though we talked over a long time, our discussion remained incomplete."
The letter further reads: "On that day, you said the discussion would continue. Based on that, we, on behalf of Jatiya Oikyafront, are interested to sit in talks again on emergency basis to complete the incomplete discussion. In this case, a limited-scale discussion involving experts from both sides is necessary for analysing the constitutional and legal aspects of the (seven) points."
In respond to the letter, the Prime Minister invited the Oikyafront to hold the second round of talks.
