The stalemate in the Jatiya Sangsad|JS) continued despite parleys between the ruling BNP and the opposition yesterday.

The stalemate surfaced in the House Tuesday following the Information Minister's controversial remarks against the opposition.

The opposition members on Tuesday staged a walkout protesting Nazmul Huda's remarks that they (opposition members) had overnight become Muslims and were shedding crocodile tears for the killing of Muslims at a mosque in the Israeli occupied territory by Jewish settlers.

Despite withdrawal of the comments and the regret expressed by the Information Minister and repeated calls by the Deputy Leader of the House Dr Badruddoza Chowdhury. • the opposition did not return to the House, causing a deadlock in legislative business.

The House yesterday sat about two hours behind the schedule and passed a bill without any discussion.

Souroes said the situation was complicated by a newspaper report yesterday in which Nazmul Huda purported to have cast aspersion by saying they (opposition) have no religious feeling.

Meanwhile the contending parties are learnt to have succeeded In narrowing down their differences on the issue.

At a meeting between the ■ leaders of the ruling party and the opposition yesterday afternoon. the treasury bench members expressed their readiness to have a general discussion on the Hebron massacre and adopt a unanimous resolution.

On the question of the Information Minister's remarks. the treasury bench leaders argued that withdrawal of his comments and his regrets had amounted to an

apology.

The deposition leaders, however, refused to accept the interpretation and reiterated their demand for an unqualified apology from the minister.

According to the meeting sources, the leaders of the two sides will meet again this morning for further discussion.

Abdus Samad Azad. Tofael Ahmed and Mohammad Nasim of the Awami League, Moudud Ahmed of the Jatiya Party. Maolana Abdus Sobhan of the Jamaat. Rashed Khan Menon of the Workers Party and Suranjit Sengupta 'of the Geoatantri Party represented the opposition at yesterday's meeting. The two hour meeting was attended by Labour and Manpower Minister Abdul Mannan Bhuiya. Works Minister Rafiqul Islam Miah and acting chief whip Mahbubul Alam Tara of the treasury bench.

The house yesterday passed a bill on the Institute for Post-Graduate Studies in Agriculture with the opposition still boycotting the session.

The JS also disposed of the question-answer hour with Speaker Sheikh Razzak All In the chair.

The House will resume at ' 10 this morning.