WE feel that the BNP's decision to turn down the Election Commission's (EC) invitation for talks is injudicious, and given the current situation, regrettable. Subsequent to BNP's rejection Jamaat has followed suit.

We can understand the BNP's diffidence, and even sympathise with it up to a point for its main segment being left out of die EC's invitation list for the first round of talks. In a way, one must admit, die EC is reaping the bitter harvest of die seeds that it had sown; indeed its decision to invite a faction of the BNP led by Maj. Hafeez (Retd), for the first round of talks, was most ill-advised, and we had pointed out the folly in this column in the past.

But die CEC has since apologised for die mistake, and has in a way signalled his open mind by expanding die agenda for talks with the BNP beyond the RPO, in their latest communication with the party. This should allay any misgivings about die EC diat might have arisen in the BNP

Under these circumstances we feel diat the BNP's decision, not to sit for dialogue with die EC, would be shortsighted and against its interest. If Del war does not respond positively to EC's invitation it would be a fair guess that the BNR perhaps feeling that die EC might be in die back foot now, would like to dictate its own term and extract the maximum political advantage from the EC as a part of its broader election strategy.

We should not forget that 1/11 was brought about because of the intransigence of the major parties on important issues as well as their propensity to create, rather than remove, die roadblocks to the political process. Their unwillingness to listen to the views of others and reluctance to resolve issues through discussion across die table, had exacerbated the situation. That attitude we cannot condone.

We feel the EC has demonstrated a flexible attitude in expanding the scope of discussions. And any reservation diat the BNP might have, particularly on the newly promulgated RPO, can be thrashed out across the table with the EC. All differences, reservations and objections must be solved through discussions there is no other alternative.

The people are waiting eagerly for an election and the nation cannot brook anything that would delay the handover of the reins of die government to the elected representatives. And towards that end, we feel, the BNP led 4-party Alliance must play a positive role.