| Submit your comments on this article |
| Bangladesh |
| AL, BNP leaders sit for 3rd time |
| 2013-12-14 |
| [Bangla Daily Star] Leaders of ruling Awami League and main opposition BNP yesterday exchanged some proposals to end the ongoing political crisis over the 10th parliamentary polls. BNP proposals include postponement of the January 5 election to keep the talks going and create level playing field, release of its leaders and withdrawal of cases against them, allowing the party to organise political activities at its central and unit offices and allowing it to hold rallies, said party sources present in the dialogue. The BNP leaders said if the government took positive steps regarding the proposals, they would sit again to discuss the polls-time government, reforms in the Election Commission, and making the administration neutral. In response, the AL side asked the opposition to stop its destructive programmes like hartal ... a peculiarly Bangla combination of a general strike and a riot, used by both major political groups in lieu of actual governance ... and blockade, give up the demand for caretaker government and accept the constitutional guidelines on the formation of polls-time government. The party also proposed that the BNP sever relations with war criminals and Jamaat-e-Islami ... The Islamic Society, founded in 1941 in Lahore by Maulana Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi, aka The Great Apostosizer. The Jamaat opposed the independence of Bangladesh but has operated an independentbranch there since 1975. It maintains close ties with international Mohammedan groups such as the Moslem Brotherhood. the Taliban, and al-Qaeda. The Jamaat's objectives are the establishment of a pure Islamic state, governed by Sharia law. It is distinguished by its xenophobia, and its opposition to Westernization, capitalism, socialism, secularism, and liberalist social mores... . Both the sides have apprised their party chiefs about the dialogue proceedings. AL General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam and BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhurl Islam Alamgir led their sides in the third round of dialogue held in presence of UN Resident Coordinator in Dhaka Neal Walker at a UN project office in Gulshan. |
| Posted by:Fred |