Dhaka – Acknowledging its meeting with a BNP delegation, the ruling Awami League on Tuesday said in the much-expected parley it emphasised stopping violence, acts of destruction and sabotage and anarchy in the country to create a proper atmosphere for making the talks meaningful.In a statement, the ruling party said a meeting between representatives of Awami League and BNP was held in the presence of UN Assistant Secretary General Oscar Fernández-Taranco.
“Country’s overall situation was discussed in the meeting. From the Awami League side, the opposition was urged to create a proper atmosphere by shunning hartal, blockade, destruction of state property, killing people by torching buses, exploding bombs and subversive acts,” the statement said.
Mentioning that BNP demanded release of their arrested leaders, it said the ruling party delegation said the BNP leaders will get released and a congenial environment for meaningful talks will be created if the opposition stops its destructive and subversive acts. “The dialogue won’t be meaningful if the destructive acts are not stopped.”
The ruling party statement said BNP raised the issue of election-time government.
In response, AL delegation said overall issues, including the election-time administration, will be discussed if hartal, blockade and all other subversive acts are stopped.
Land Minister Amir Hossain Amu, Industries Minister Tofail Ahmed, AL secretary general Syed Ashraful Islam and Prime Minister’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Dr Gowher Rizvi represented the government while BNP was represented by its acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam, standing committee members Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan and vice-chairman Shamsher Mobin Chowdhury. – UNB
