PARTHA PRATIM BHATTACHARJEE and RASHIDUL HASAN

The Awami League may not share any seat with the Jatiya Party in the upcoming polls, sources said.

AL President Sheikh Hasina hinted at this during her meeting with JP chief patron and Opposition Leader Raushan Ershad at the Gono Bhaban yesterday afternoon, they said.

Late last night, JP and AL delegations met to have their third round of talks on seat sharing. Leaders of the parties this correspondent reached out to for information refused to comment.

One of them only said the meeting was cordial.

On Monday, the prime minister expressed doubts over the main opposition in parliament staying in the race.

According to sources present at yesterday’s meeting at the Gono Bhaban, Hasina asked AL praesidium member Kazi Zafarullah, also co-chairman of the AL election steering committee, to convey her party’s stance to the JP.

She expressed annoyance at JP Chairman GM Quader for not publicly saying that the JP will take part in the election.

Only JP Secretary General Mujibul Haque Chunnu has been speaking while GM Quader is silent, the sources quoted Hasina as saying.

The PM said she knows with whom GM Quader consults matters.

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