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Solution to Stalemate

AL, BNP leaders hardly hopeful

Staff Correspcindent
Policymakers of the BNP-led 18-party opposition alliance now see little hope for a solution to the political deadlock through talks with the government.
The ruling Awami League's strategy for the general election has made the opposition leaders believe that the government will go ahead with its plan for holding the polls regardless.
Several senior AL leaders said there is no possibility now of reaching a consensus with the BNP on the election-time govern-
ment as the opposition's main demand for formation of a non-party polls-time cabinet without Sheikh Hasina is "totally unacceptable."
The AL will make all out preparations for the January 5 national election. On Monday, the Election Commission announced the polls schedule.
The opposition alliance has refrained from enforcing a two-week long hartal, except for weekends, as per its earlier decision to protest the announcement of the election schedule. It showed restraint only
AL, BNP leaders
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to avoid blame from the international community for a dire situation, BNP insiders said.
The main opposition party will keep urging the government to resolve the crisis through dialogue to show its sincerity to the foreign countries and donors.
The international community, especially the LIN, the LISA, EH and India, has long been urging both the feuding camps to resolve the crisis through talks and ensure an inclusive election.
"If we go all out now for resisting the election, we might face criticism at home and abroad for any deteriorating situation. And the government would take advantage of it. So, we now want to move carefully," a senior BNP leader told The Daily Star.
BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia discussed the overall political situation in the country with some party leaders at her Gulshan office on Monday night before the opposition alliance announced a 48-hour blockade of roads, railway and waterways. Yesterday, the blockade was extended by 23 hours.
BNP chiefs adviser Osman Faruk, who was present at the meeting, said,
"The hope for resolving the political stalemate through talks is marginal. We want to give a chance to the government so that it gives peace a chance."
Khaleda is likely to sit today with the senior party leaders to decide the next course of action. If the government does not take any steps to resolve the crisis, the opposition will heat up the street agitation in phases. The alliance might enforce hartal for several days next week, said BNP sources.
To counter the opposition's movement, the AL high command has asked party activists to make all out preparations for the election and put their highest efforts into making the polls successful.
The ruling party high-ups, however, are not much worried about the BNP-Jamaat's movement as they strongly believe that the opposition parties would not be able to go for a tougher agitation. The AL leaders made such an assumption as the opposition could not intensify its movement earlier.
The government will take a tough stance against any move by the 18-party alliance to resist the ensuing election, said sources in the government.
The central AL leaders have already instructed the district leaders to remain alert to any possible violence by the BNP-Jamaat men and to assist the law enforcement agencies to maintain law and order.