Oikya Front finds ‘no solution’; Movement to continue

Senior Reporter: After sitting with Prime Minister and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina to thrash out differences surrounding the general elections, the Jatiya Oikya Front has say that it has found “no solution” in the dialogue.

Jatiya Oikyafront convener Dr Kamal Hossain on Thursday night 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.

Dr Kamal was talking to reporters at his Bailey Road residence after Jatiya Oikyafront’s meeting with the Awami League-led 14-party alliance at Ganobhaban.

He said they conveyed their demands and stance and she came to know about those. “She’ll inform her final decision later.”

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said his party was not satisfied with how the talks went.

SD President ASM Abdur Rab said their movement would continue to realise their seven-point demand

About the release of Khaleda Zia, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said they raised the issue, but the Prime Minister did not say anything specific in this regard. “She said discussion could be held further in the future in this regard.”

Asked whether they were happy with the talks, he replied in the negative.

He also said they urged the Prime Minister not to announce the election schedule until talks with the political parties end, but she said it is the authority of the Election Commission.

The much-anticipated talks started at the Ganabhaban on Thursday evening just after the election commissioners met President Md Abdul Hamid to brief him about the preparations for the polls. 

The closed-door meeting started after Hasina’s opening remarks at 7pm. As the 43 leaders of the Oikya Front and the ruling 14-Party coalition were discussing political issues, the prime minister treated them to a 20-course dinner.

As all the eyes were on the dialogue, a huge media crew gathered outside the prime minister’s residence. They rushed to the politicians when they started emerging out after the talks ended at 10:40pm.

Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina led a 23-member 14-party delegation while Gono Forum President Dr Kamal Hossain a 20-member Jatiya Oikyafront team in the discussion.
 
The other Oikyafront delegation members were BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, standing committee members Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Moudud Ahmed, Jamiruddin Sircar, Mirza Abbas, JSD president ASM Abdur Rob, vice president Tania Rob, general secretary Abdul Malek Ratan, Nagorik Oikya’s Mahmudur Rahman Manna and SM Akarm,  Gono Forum general secretary Mostafa Mohsin Montu, executive president Subrata Chowdhury, Jatiya Oiky Prokriya’s Sultan Mohammad Mansur Ahmed, ABM Mostafa Amin, Gonoshasthya Kendra founder Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury, BNP standing committee members Dr Abdul Moyeem Khan, Gano Forum leaders Mokabbir Khan, Jaglul Haider Afrik and AHM Shafiq Ullah.


risingbd/Dhaka/Nov 2, 2018/Reza/Mukul