Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed has asked the BNP for its assistance to maintain political stability and sees it coming.
BNP leader Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury responded by demanding a ‘right’ election when Tofail expressed the hope at a roundtable titled ‘Bangladesh-After Jan 5’.
Leading politicians, diplomats, business personalities, analysts and activists came together at bdnews24.com to discuss where Bangladesh is heading after the elections at its office on Saturday.
Senior Awami League leader Tofail Ahmed said there was scope for dialogue with the BNP about a fresh general election.
“We have never said that there was no need for talks. The 11th parliamentary elections will definitely be held, and for that the talks will take place,” he commented, speaking about the BNP’s demand for a non-party government.
The Awami League left no stones unturned to make BNP join the polls, according to the ruling party’s Advisory Committee member.
“It’s unfortunate that didn’t happen, but we tried our best.”
“There will be stability in the country, there will be investment,” he hoped.
“Normality will return to spur trade and exports. We will move forward.”
“I hope the BNP will help the government to take the country forward,” said the influential leader of the Awami League.
He also hoped that the government will fulfill all the expectations of the people.
BNP Chairperson’s adviser Amir Khosru said the country will only be stable when the election was rightly held and people had representation.
He feared the aggression between the parties will not allow the country to be stable.
“There can be no stability if voter-less elections are held and manipulated. An election with representation can only return stability to the country.”
“People don’t have representation in the current Parliament. This does not need BNP.”
About Jamaat-e-Islami, the former Commerce Minister said said the people will decide if they want to eliminate a party from the political scene.
Commerce Minister Tofail said they would work for the prosperity of the country leaving all political divides aside.
The new government was working for turning the country democratic and non-communal, he added.
Criticising the BNP’s decision to not come in the polls, he said, “The BNP did not join this time, what happens if the Awami League does not the next time? Will this go on?
“The BNP did not give any proposal after accepting one. The Awami League cannot take so many responsibilities. If talks start tomorrow, issues like ‘Parliament has to be dissolved…we will not accept Sheikh Hasina’ will come up, this is not realistic.”
Along with him and Amir Khosru, Mujahidul Islam Selim, President of the Communist Party of Bangladesh, represented the political class at the debate.
Former Chief Election Commissioner ATM Shamsul Huda, former caretaker finance adviser AB Mirza M Azizul Islam, columnist Salimullah Khan and former ambassador Nasim Ferdous also took part in the dialogue.
Also among the discussants were leading rights activists Ayesha Khanam and Khushi Kabir.
Senior journalist Amanullah Kabir and Chief Editor of Ekattor Television Mozammel Babu also joined the event.
Editor-in-Chief of bdnews24.com Toufique Imrose Khalidi moderated the discussion.-bdnews24.com
