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Free Khaleda, Hasina before formal talks

Delwar-led BNP asks govt at 'unofficial' meeting

Staff Correspondent
Leaders of pro-Khaleda faction of BNP during an 'unofficial' talk with the government yesterday demanded release of their party Chairperson Khaleda Zia and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina before the expected formal dialogues.
They said release of the two major party chiefs is a must to make the dialogues fruitful and the upcoming election credible.
During the talk with five advisers to the caretaker government at the state guesthouse Meghna last evening, Khaleda loyalists said their faction will not join the formal dialogues with their chief in jail.
The BNP faction leaders asked the government to withdraw the state of emergency and restore democracy without further delay. They demanded a free, fair and neutral election as soon as possible.
It would be tough to hold a meaningful election without the two top leaders, as the people don’t accept the so-called allegations brought against them," BNP Standing Committee Member Chowdhury Tanveer Ahmed Siddique told reporters after the meeting, adding that the BNP
chairperson is absolutely innocent.
Tanveer led the delegation of Khaleda loyalists to the talk.
BNP Chairperson's Adviser Brig Gen (retd) Hannan Shah said the Election Commission (EC) made a farce of electoral reform talks by inviting only pro-Saifur faction of BNP. He claimed pro-Khaleda faction is the mainstream of BNP
"We demanded release of our chairperson before the formal talks," BNP Joint Secretary General Nazrul Islam Khan said at the post talk news briefing.
Yesterday's two-hour unofficial’ talk between leaders of pro-Khaleda faction of BNP and the five government advisers began at 5:15pm, marking the end of the first round.
Meanwhile. Commerce Adviser Hossain Zillur Rahman told report ers. "We started the talks emphasising three points -- creating confidence, holding a meaningful election, and making decisions to bring qualitative changes in politics.'
He said they are happy as the discussions were held in congenial atmosphere and since they received good suggestions form (he political leaders. During the informal talks, a ground foi formal discussions was created which will help them to hold a credible election timely, he added
He said they will report to the chief adviser tomorrow about (he talks with political parties held over the last 22 days.
Commerce Adviser Hossain Zillur Rahman. Communications Adviser Maj Gen (retd) Ghulam Quader, law Adviser AF Hassan Ariff, LGRD Adviser Anwanil Iqbal, and Foreign Adviser Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury represented the government yesterday.
Tanveer Ahmed Siddique led the 11-member pro Khaleda BNP delegation. Other members of the dele-gat ion were BNP Standing Committee Member Dr RA Gani, Vice-presidents MK Anwar and Begum Sarwar i Rahman, BNP chairperson's advisers Brig Gen (retd) ASM Hannan Shah and Riaz Rahman, Joint Secretaries General Nazrul Islam Khan. Goyeshwar Chandra Roy and Selima Rahman, and Acting Office Secretary Rizvi Ahmed.
Earlier in the day. Commerce Adviser Hossain Zillur Rahman invited Khaleda loyalists to the talk by sending a cell phone text message to Khandaker Delwar Hossain, the faction's executive chief also BNP secretary general appointed by its detained Chairperson Khaleda Zia.
Khaleda loyalists also demanded release of all detained political leaders including Tarique Rahman. They argued that the detained political leaders should be tried under the regular laws of rhe land if there are reasonable all ega tions against diem
They also asked die authorities to withdraw all cases filed against detained political leaders and urged the government not to interfere in the functions of the judiciary, constitutional institutions, the media, and the administration.
Urging all to uphold the spirit of the constitution, pro-Khaleda BNP leaders demanded an end of intervention by 'certain quarters' in political and electoral process.
'' Theyalsodthumdedaccessofthe media to die proposed formal dialogues between political parties and die government, and stressed the need for taking necessary measures to bring back confidence among the business community.
Comparing the present situation in the country with a 'famine-like situation', the leaders asked the government to introduce a rationing system for the lower income group people and allowances for the jobless.
The leaders of the BNP faction also asked the authonties to stop 'harassing' their leaders as such 'harassments' create obstacles to holding a peaceful election.
They also asked the government to disclose the steps taken by the government for the treatment of detained political leaders as well as the recommendations made by the medical boards formed for their treatment.
Earlier, the panel of government advisers held talks with Krishak Sramik Janata League and Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal.