There appears little positive sign that the stalled Coaimon-wealth-brokered dialogue between the government and the Opposition can resume in the immediate future.

This belief is reinforced by the recent posturings of the ruling BNP and the main parliamentary Opposition parties who have been striving hard to demonstrate their strengths on the streets of the capital.

The ruling party high command has already instructed its front organisations to reactivate themselves by gearing up

party activities at the grassroots level, a move many political observers see as a possible preparation for early elections.

The BNP standing committee Will hold a meeting today to discuss, among other things, possible strategies and tactics to counter the increasingly militant Opposition agitations against the government.

The highest policy-making body of the ruling party is also likely to evaluate the present state of the stalemated dialogue. especially in the light of the contentious statements in recent days by three apparently rebellious party MPs. The three are to be given hearings by the standing committee.

Party chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia. who heads the 15-member. committee, will chair the meeting.

The BNP’s parliamentary party Wednesday endorsed unanimously a resolution that former information minister Nazmul Huda. Major (Retd) Akteruzzaman and Nurul Islam Monl should explain to the standing committee why they made press statements against the party line on the caretaker * government issue that discomfited the government no encl.

Very well Informed party sources said the rank and file

See Page 12 Col 1From Page 1 Col 7 of the party are completely against accepting the Oppositions unconstitutional’ demands.

The BNP's Central secretariat held a meeting yesterday with its chief party Secretary General Abdus Salam Talukdar tn the chair.

Nearly 40 secretaries and . joint secretaries, out of 80. were present.

»Most of those who took part in the discussions reportedly blamed the party high command for giving 'too much importance' to the Opposition in the name of dialogue.

They said the ruling party . had already-given enough concessions to the Opposition by suggesting a plan for a multiparty Interim government by coopting Opposition members in the proposed mini cabinet.

Meeting sources said mid-levei leaders advised the high command sticks to its present stand of insisting on Prime Minister Begum Zia heading any Interim government before 'the next general elections.

They also reportedly promised to resume their activities with zeal tn their respective areas.

Salam Talukdar will Inform today's standing committee meeting of the sentiment of the central secretariat.

On the other hand, the op-► position parties have already announced fresh agitation programmes. They have called for consecutive dawn-to-dusk hartals on Saturday and Sun-

day. which some of the' opposition leaders said are designed to put pressure on the government at the negotiating table.

The three major opposition parties which have long been boycotting Parliament sessions demanding a non-party, caretaker government to supervise general elections, announced identical action programpies. albeit from separate ■platforms.

In reply to the ruling party's formula, the Opposition now says that the Chief Justice should be the head of any caretaker government to be formed after necessary constitutional amendments.

Meanwhile, ruling party feaders have charged that the Opposition's street agitation had slowed down the process of the dialogue.

In addition to the combined opposition strategy, the Awami League, the Jamaat and the Jatiya Party are also organising their own programmes to strengthen their respective party positions.

The AL chief and leader of the Opposition in Parliament Sheikh Hasina will start a tour of North Bengal from November 14 as part of her party's organisational programme.

During her three-day tour the AL chief will address a number of public meetings in Bogra. Rangpur and Gaibandha.

Both the ruling party and the Opposition are learnt (o be carefully weighing their options should the dialogue fail