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Order of items for talks appears an obstacle

By Nurul Kabir
The order of subjects on the three-point agenda now appears to be a hurdle to a smooth beginning of the proposed dialogue between the opposing political camps.
The. problems surfaced during separate meetings of the visiting Commonwealth advance team with Deputy Leader of Parliament Prof Badniddoza Chowdhury and Deputy Leader of the Opposition Abdus Samad Azad.
The two-meniber ’ »eam comprising Christopher Childs and Dr. Moses Anafu met Samad Azad at his Parliament office yesterday afternoon and met Prof. Chowdhury at 10 last night.
Samad Azad told The Daily Star that he had informed the Commonwealth team that the
Opposition had been left with no option but to discuss the issue of holding general elec- , lions under a caretaker administration first. "T told them however stronger the Election Commission (EC) might be. it cannot function independently if a party government is there to control the administration '. Tlie team, which arrived in the city Monday to create a ion genial atmospherr '■ the pro posed" dialogue. 1S '•lestni to have made no comment
On the other hand. Prof Badruddoza Chowdhury told them that the ruling party was Interested in discussing the is sue of strengthening the EC as the first item at the projxised talks
The ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party IBNP) secretary General Abdus Salam Talukder. who was present at the meeting, told this correspondent late last night. We have tried to explain to the Commonwealth team that if the Opposition's objective is to ensure a fool-proof electoral process the only way is to have a really independent Election Commission under a constitutional government. And in that case, the question of discussing the Issue of a stronger Election Commission with wide powers comes first." The BNP Secretary General also informed the Commonwealth officials that the ruling party is ready to discuss the issue according to the order set by Commonwealth Secretary General Chief Emeka much earlier.
Emeka put the question of strengthening the EC as the first Item, caretaker administration issue as the second and the code of conduct for the political parties as the third Item on the agenda.
According to Talukder, the officials did not comment on
the ruling party contention.
They are. however, expected to make a working paper for Sir Ninian Stephen, the Commonwealth emissary, who arrives in the city today.
Meanwhile, leaders of the opposition parties and groups in Parliament met yesterday afternoon to 'discuss the strategy for the proposed dialogue. Opposition Chief Whip Mohammad Nasim told reporters at the Sangsad -Bhaban that national elections under a caretaker administration wo uld be the main item at the talks. He also hoped that the ruling party would Join the dialogue with a mind to meet the Opposition demand for a non-partisan caretaker govern ment to conduct the national polls.
An insider told The Dally Star, after the meeting, the Opposition leaders were yet to decide on the size of their delegations for the talks but they resolved unanimously not to include any non-MP in the team.
Senior leaders of the principal opposition party Awaml League later piet party chief Sheikh Hasina at her Minto road residence to apprise her of the outcome of the meeting between Samad. Azad and the Commonwealth officials and the Opposition leaders meeting. Satisfied over the results, the AL chief is learnt to have advised her party colleagues not to shift from the present position.
Prof. Badruddoza Chowdhury and Salam Talukder also had a closed‘door meeting after the Commonwealth delegation left Chowdhury's residence at 10:30pm and resolved to stick to their present position relating to the order of subjects on the three-point agenda for the talks.