The Awami League and the BNP yesterday welcomed the government-sponsored dialogue to be held this month, which aims at holding the general election in a free, fair and credible manner.

"We welcome the dialogue, we're waiting for it as we first raised the demand for it in order to reach a national consensus," Awami League General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam told UNB.

In reply to a question, he said issues like price hikes, state of emergency, pre-election atmosphere, law and order and reforms of different constitutional bodies will be raised at the dialogue by the Awami League. "We’ll also discuss the pre- and post-election situation," he said

Asked whether they will demand for the release of Sheikh Hasina at the dialogue, Ashraf said, "Wc hope our leader will be sent abroad for treatment before the dialogue begins. So, we would not require to raise the issue."

BNP Joint Secretary General Goyeshwar Chandra Roy said the planned dialogue would help remove unrest and distrust between political parties and the government.

He, however, suggested the presence of detained BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina in order to make the dialogue effective.

Pro-reform BNP acting Secretary General Maj (retd) Hafizuddin Ahmed said they would raise three points -- transition to democracy, bringing down the soaring prices to a tolerable level and the release of Khaleda Zia — at the dialogue.

He hoped that the dialogue would be held without any government condition.