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Govt renews talks offer to AL

PM not perturbed by April 30 deadline

Staff correspondent
Ruling BNP Secretary General Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan yesterday renewed his offer for dialogue with the opposition on the prevailing political situation.
The offer came during a luncheon Prime Minister Khaleda Zia hosted for editors of press and electronic media at the Prime Minister's Bhaban yesterday.
"We arc willing to meet immediately and I am ready to send imitation right away to that effect. The talks could be held anytime and at anyplace," Bhuiyan said.
The prime minister said her government and her party, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, are always willing and open for discussions with the opposition to resolve any conflict or misunderstanding
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for the sake of democracy, development and people's welfare. She said her offer for dialogue is genuine and reiterated her call for the opposition's return to parliament.
Responding to a question on the April 30 deadline, she said, "Nothing will happen on the day. We will continue to exist and so will the opposition. We believe in multiparty democracy, which ensures the existence of all political parties regardless of (their) differences."
The BSS adds: Prime Minister Khaleda Zia yesterday said her administration is not anxious about Awami League (AL)'s April 30 deadline for the government's fall.
"We have no anxiety and we have not seen any concern or uneasiness about it among the people either," she told editors of press and electronic media during a luncheon at the Prime Minister's Bhaban on the occasion of the Bangla New Year.
During the two-hour function, the prime minister replied to a volley of questions from the editors on a host of issues including law and order, price hike of essentials, Chittagong arms haul and agricultural development.
On the issue of law and order, the prime minister said the situation has improved and the government has taken measures to curb violence and extortion, adding that criminals are not getting any patronisation from either the state or her party.
She said offenders are being arrested and the government has taken steps including formation of Rapid Action Battalion to root out criminals. The government has also strengthened the Bangladesh Rifles and police to stop smugglers and black marketeers, she said.
On price hike of essentials, Khaleda Zia said prices of some commodities have gone up in the international market but her government has taken steps including tax reduction to check price hike.
The prime minister said the country has enough stock of essentials but some unscrupulous people are trying to create an artificial crisis by hoarding.
On the arms recovery at Chittagong, she said the arms were seized due to government vigilance and that the government will take necessary steps after investigation is finished.
She said steps have been taken to provide adequate relief to victims of the tornado-hit areas of Mymensingh and Netrokona.
Referring to her election pledges, she said her government has been implementing a good number of socio-economic development programmes including poverty reduction, education and health.
The prime minister urged the media to play an effective role in encouraging development activities besides highlighting the government's socio-economic development activities.
She said her government will ensure just prices for the farmers and has been encouraging promo-
tion of agricultural products including soybean and setting up of dairy and poultry farming to reduce dependence on imported powder milk.
She mentioned a number of steps including waiving of interests on agricultural loan, stopping of certificate cases, agricultural subsidy, crops diversification and research allocations to help produce more on limited land.
The editors who attended the function included Mahfuz Anam of The Daily Star, AZM Enayetullah Khan of New Age, Mahbubul Alam of Independent, Gaziul Hasan Khan of Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, AMM Bahauddin of Inquilab, Motiur Rahman of Prothom Alo, Golam Sarwar of Jugantor, Reazuddin Ahmed of News Today, Bazlur Rahman of Sangbad, Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury of Bangladesh Observer, Abul Asad of Sangram, Gias Kamal Chowdhury of Khobor Patra, Moazzem Hossain of Financial Express, Alamgir Mohiuddin of New Nation, Amanullah Kabir of Amardesh, Kazi Siraj of Dinkal, Atiqullah Khan Masud and Toab Khan of Janakantha, Kazi Shahed Ahmed of Ajker Kagoj, Akhtarul Alam and Rahat Khan of Ittefaq, Ataus Samad of Ekhoni, Shafiq Rehman of Jai Jai Din, Salahuddin Ahmed of Deshjanata, bureau chief of Reuters Anis Ahmed and its former bureau chief Atiqul Alam, former bureau chief of AFP Golam Tahaboor, Farooq Alamgir of ntv and Shaykh Siraj of Channel-i.