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Unofficial Talks With Govt

AL demands Hasina's release, date for polls

Staff Correspondent
The Awami League (AL) yesterday placed before the caretaker government a five-point demand including release of its chief Sheikh Hasina, measures for her treatment abroad and a specific date for the ninth parliamentary polls.
If we love the country, want a solution to the country's prevailing crises and want handover of the power through holding a free and fair poll, then Sheikh Hasina's chance to take part in the dialogue have to be ensured through her unconditional release," the AL said in its written statement to the advisers.
The statement was handed over to five caretaker government advisers during the second round of unofficial talk between seven AL leaders and the advisers in the state guesthouse Meghna in the capital.
Briefing newsmen after their meeting with the advisers, AL acting General Secretary' Syed Ashraful Islam said at the talk they also demanded holding of the national election by the year end, immediate curbing of price hikes of essentials, lifting of the state of emergency, and trials of war criminals.
The AL suggested holding talks with political parties separately and demanded that the chief adviser be present there, he said.
Saying that there is doubt in the public mind about the certainty of holding of the election by the year end, the AL statement said the state of emergency must be lifted for electoral preparations creating a congenial atmosphere for the poll, and to dispel the public confusion about the election. "So we are demanding announcement of a specific date for the election immediately,’' the statement read.
Assuring the AL leaders of holding the election by the end of this war, (he advisers emphasised on improving the quality of the political process, culture and system to reach a national consensus through the official dialogue with political parties.
The AL delegation also include Ainu Hossain Ainu. Abdur Razzak. Tofail Ahmed, Suranjit Sengupta, Motia Chowdhury and Syed Ashraiul Islam. . .
The advisers present at the meeting were Law Adviser AF Hassan Anti, Foreign Adviser Iftekhar A Chowdhury. Communications Adviser Ghulam Quader, Education and Commerce Adviser 1 iossain Zillur Rahman and IGRD Adviser Anwarul Iqbal.
Earlier, the same government advisers sat with four AL leaders at the Rail Bhaban in the capital for the first round of unofficial talk last Monday. On Wednesday the AL decided not sit for any further talks without a formal invitation, then on Saturday in a reversal of that decision its presidium in a meeting decided to sit in yesterday's unofficial dialogue with the government anyhow following an SMS invitation sent by I Iossain Zillur Rahman to the party's Acting President Zillur Rahman.
In yesterday's statement the AL speculated that some sticky problems might emerge when the dialogue will move on to the highest levels of both parties, which might turn out to be very difficult to solve without the presence of Sheikh Hasina at the dialogue. "If a situation like that occurs, the talks will remain only talks," the .XL warned in its statement.
Saying that anger and discontent have been prevailing among the people due to skyrocketing price hikes of essentials, the AL warned the government advisers that it will be tough to keep the people's discontent unaer control if the trend continues.
"So immediately the price hikes of essentials must be reined in and necessary essentials must be supplied to the lower and middle income group people for affordable prices or for free, otherwise a serious famine might occur in the country." the AL advised the government
.About trials of war criminals, the AL statement said trials of the war criminals, meting out of exemplary punishments to them, and barring them from contesting in any election have become the public demand now. "But with-sadness, vve are observing that the government has not yet taken any effective step to resolve the matter. If they [the government] would try these killers, and the anti-liberation oppressors of women, the nation would welcome them," the statement said.
The statement went on to say that dialogues between the government and political parties are necessary to get out of the present crises, but there have to be will and commitment among bo th sides.
The statement termed the forma -4 tion of the present government as the' outcome of the AL's movement against widespread misrule' of the immediate past BNP-Jamaat alliance government
The AL in the statement observed that the present crises in the country would not even occur if the government and the AL whose aims and targets are similar', would have cooperated mutually. It added that misunderstandings between the AL and the government happened due to some government adviser's irresponsible statements’.
But it is a matter of hope that the government is willing to resolve the prevailing crises through dialogues, the statement added.
Syed Ashraful Islam said they also asked the advisers not to allow anyone . else including members of the civil society at the official talks.
He said they suggested that the government hold the official dialogue at the office of the chief adviser but said they would not object if it is held at any state guesthouse.
The AL also asked the government to conclude the official dialogue within May, hoping that the formal dialogue would be fruitful.
It demanded that the national election be held before local government elections and there must be a good will for establishing rule of law and political freedom.
Drawing the advisers' attention to the fact that the judiciary has been separated but it has not J^bcome independent yet, the AL leaders demanded independence of the judiciary and judicial system.
The AL also demanded immediate release of all detamed party leaders including General Secretary Abdul Jalil, Presidium members Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim and Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir, Joint General Secretary Obaidul Quader and former home minister Mohammad Nasim.
"We have also asked the advisers to immediately release all party leaders w ho haw been kept detained for long without any specific charges," said Ashraf.
"We told them that release of Sheikh Hasina and steps for her treatment abroad are important for creating die environment necessary for the dialogue, ' he said But in the AL's written statement obtained by The Daily Star, (here was no mention of I lasina's treatment abroad.
He said the advisers admitted that the demands are logical they told us that they will discuss the issues at the advisory council and inform us of the outcome during the official talks," Ashraf said.
ADVISER /.I LLU R’S BRI EFING
Briefing reporters, Commerce Adviser Hossain Zillur Rahman said they discussed different issues with the AL in a free environment, both the parties emphasising on the need for creating "an air of confidence' for the dialogue.
We also told them that it is necessary to uphold the legal process and ethical questions," Zillur said adding, "We hope the air of confidence will be created through the dialogue so that we can take me nation towards an effective and acceptable election."
On the AL demand for holding the election by this December 31, he said they assured the AL leadership that holding the election within this timeframe is also their target.
'We have also put emphasis on another aspiration of the nation--to improve the quality of the political process, culture and system," said the adviser, adding that the government has agreed to find out ways to that end to reach a consensus through the dialogue
A few other minor issues including the modality and venue of die official dialogue were also discussed at the meeting. On the AL suggestion for holding bilateral dialogues with political parties, the commerce adviser said they do not have any alternative opinion on this matter.
Zillur said they will gradually sit in unofficial talks with other political parties and move towards the official dialogue as soon as possible GOVT SETTLING ISSUE OF PARTY CHIEFS' RELEASE
Meanwhile, the caretaker government is aiming at resolving the political parties' conditions, including release of Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina, for the formal talks with the government during its ongoing pre-dialogue meetings, an adviser said yesterday.
A framework for the final dialogues has also been determined at these preparatory meetings, Communications Adviser Maj Gen (retd) Ghulam Quader said after a dialogue preparatory meeting with three other advisers at his ministry yesterday.
"We will sit separately with the political parties during the final dialogues." he told reporters after a preparatory meeting with Law Adviser AF Hassan Anff. Education and Commerce Adviser Hossain Zillur Rahman and Women and Children Affairs Adviser Rasheda K Choudhury.
Ghulam Quader, who is thought to be leading the dialogues' preparatory task, said the chief adviser will formally declare the dates of the final dialogues.
Asked to comment on AL's and BNP's conditions of releasing their chiefs - Hasina and Khaleda --before the formal dialogues, he said, "I don't think the conditions are a hurdle. They are being resolved in the predialogue meetings."
"We all will have to come to an agreement, and that is why we are continuing the discussions/ Quader added.
Asked if representatives from the civil society or donor agencies will be allowed at the dialogues, he said, 'The dialogues will be held between the government and political parties — nobody else will be allowed in them.'