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Politics spins around talks-deadline axis

Staff Correspondent
The ruling BNP yesterday repeated its call for talks with the Awami League (AL) amid the main opposition party's looming threat to dislodge the coalition try April 30.
Die offer of dialogue came from a meeting between Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and newspaper editors, two days ahead of AL's demonstration to besiege Hawa Bhaban, dubbed as BNP's alternative power-
house, onWcdn esd ay.
"We are willing to meet immediately and I'm ready to send invitations right away. Die talks can be held anywhere.' said BNP Secretary General Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan, who was present at the meeting to exchangeviews.
In reaction, Deputy Leader of tire Opposition Abdul Hamid questioned the government's sincerity and complained diat it did not allow AL leaders to visit the family of
Golam Rabbani, managing director of Korean Export Processing Zone, who went into a coma after he was injured try assailants.
Talking to women journalists at a city programme yesterday, AL General Secretary Abdul Jalil reiterated the April-30 deadline and expressed determination to participate in next elections, which he projected to be held in June or July this year.
"If the government stays in office beyond the deadline, the nation will face a disastrous consequence," he said.
The AL, which has been boycotting parliament since June 25 last year, also plans to resign from the House en bloc and persuade other opposition parties to follow suit.
The AL plans to galvanise people in a series of oust-government programmes in the lead-up to the April-30 deadline ahead of the next elections, due in 2006.
The AL is scouting for support from other opposition parties to force the government out of power, blaming it for unabated corruption and law and order downslide.
Its recent efforts to strengthen ties with left-leaning parties apart, the AL is eyeing for close relations with the Jatiya Party (Ershad), the second largest opposition party in parliament, which is under sharp watch of the ruling coalition that does not want parliament to run without opposition.
JP Chairman HM Ershad, now on a China visit, is scheduled to return home today and take stock of the latest political situation with key party colleagues in a day or two.
On a different front, the BNP, preparing to face the threat to unseat the government, scheduled the next meeting of parliamentary party (BNPPP) for April 25, coincid-
ing with the day parliament resumes its session after a 30-day recess.
The BNPPP that last met on March 21 received overwhelming pleas from ruling party lawmakers for downsizing the large cabinet of Khaleda and replace the corrupt ones by the efficient and honest.
In a gesture to mend fences with disgruntled party lawmakers, Senior Joint Secretary General of the BNP and Khaleda's son Tarique Rahman hosted a dinner for them.
The BNPPP looks set to heal woes among party rank and file in an effort to prevent a repeat of defection of lawmakers such as Abdul Mannan and Mahi B Chowdhury.