Wednesday, 11 December 2013

Talks, protests to go together

Our programme began well before our talks did. It will continue until a deal is struck,” BNP Standing Committee Member Nazrul Islam Khan said on Wednesday.

He said the people expected a 'solution' from the dialogue but added there were no reports of any breakthrough yet.

A settlement, he maintained, hinged on the formation of a ‘non-party’ caretaker government to oversee the polls.

He felt it would be 'suicidal' for the government to hold the next election on Jan 5 as per the current schedule.

The BNP has been agitating for the formation a caretaker government to oversee the next polls.

The provision for such an arrangement has, however, been dropped from the Constitution in 2011 through the 15th constitutional amendmant.

The agitation got tough well before Oct 27, when the countdown to the election began. It got tougher as the polls schedule was announced on Nov 25.

The BNP, along with its allies, has toughened its movement, calling shutdown and blockade across Bangladesh for 16 days, when over 50 people died in violence.

The ruling Awami League has, however, rejected the caretaker demand, saying it was not in the Constitution.

The party has gone ahead with forming a multi-party government to hold the polls under its own administration, which the Opposition says will get in the way of acceptable polls.


Nazrul Islam Khan was speaking at a press briefing called at BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s Gulshan office on Wednesday, the fifth day of roads, railways and waterways.

He claimed that two persons were killed, 75 wounded and 70 shot on the fifth day of the countrywide blockade. Besides, 1500 leaders and activists were sued.

He also alleged enforced disappearance of at least 30 leaders and activists for the last few days. “Their whereabouts are still known. It is alarming.”

He urged Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to resign to end the ‘crisis’.

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