All for CG dialogue

 As the ruling Awami League leaders appeared determined not to restore the caretaker system of government despite the opposition?s persistent demand for a dialogue on the issue, the political situation may deteriorate further with a recurrence of unrest in the days ahead, analysts and politicians observe.

Although Awami League General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam Wednesday issued statement in favour of a political dialogue, presidium member Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim on Thursday said the ruling party would not hold any talks on restoration of the non-party caretaker government.

The same day, BNP standing committee member Khandker Mosharraf Hossain asked the government to take initiative for holding a dialogue on formation of the caretaker government.

In the meantime, the charge-sheeting of BNP stalwarts cast a damper on the initiative for dialogue to break the current political standoff over the caretaker-government issue.

Civil-society members, business leaders and foreign countries have attached highest importance to talks for reaching an agreement to resolve the current political stalemate.

Barrister Rafiqul Haque told daily sun that caretaker government is a must. ?Without an interim government, no election will be held. Election results will not be acceptable, if it is held sans neutral government.?

About charge sheet against BNP stalwarts, he said, ?The charge sheet has been submitted hurriedly in a bid to frustrate BNP leaders who got bail. The government is running fast which may cause accident.?

Hasanul Haq Inu MP, president of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, said, ?In a follow-up to the Supreme Court order for cancelling the caretaker system, the government formed a committee to amend the constitution. Khaleda Zia was asked to be a member of the committee and give her opinion. But, she had taken the path of confrontation by refusing the invitation.?

Inu said, ?The opposition leader will have to agree on three points ? cancellation of old CG system, introduction of an alternative system, and giving a formula for alternative of her own (Khaleda Zia?s).?

Barrister Anisul Islam Mahmud, Jatiya Party presidium member, said, ?As the apex court cancelled the CG system, there is no scope for restoring it. But, a dialogue may be held on introduction of an alternative system.?

?Confrontation and third party?s intervention will follow if the crisis is not resolved through dialogue,? he apprehended.

Dr M Zahir, an eminent lawyer, said, ?If the problem is not solved through dialogue, it will lead to confrontation. But, I believe the political parties will agree on an alternative system to hold the election in free and fair manner.?

Professor Emajuddin Ahmed, a noted political scientist, said, ?The country is heading for a massive confrontation as the ruling and opposition parties are adamant with their different policies on CG system.?

As the European Union, the United States and India suggested resolving the present crisis through dialogue, any attempt to ignore their suggestion would lead the country to civil war, he forewarned.

Ferdous Hossain, a political science teacher of Dhaka University, said, ?Any amicable solution through dialogue requires a relation of trust between the political parties. But, unfortunately, such kind of relation is not available so far.?

?The present political situation is getting worse and it will deteriorate further,? he said.

Former adviser of caretaker government Akbar Ali Khan said, ?The political parties are limited to their policies about CG system. No deviation from their policies is followed yet. If any party does not accept the CG system, the scope for dialogue is very limited. As such, political turmoil will intensify.?

Giasuddin Ahmed, president of political science association, said charge-sheet against BNP stalwarts at the behest of the government has hampered an atmosphere for dialogue.

The either parties ought to sit for a dialogue meant for resolution to the political crisis for the greater interest of the country, he suggested.

Professor Badiul Alam Majumder of SUJAN said, ?The political situation is becoming worse and inflammable for a conflict over CG system.?

When BNP is saying that the government will have to take initiative for dialogue anywhere, the country?s political situation will deteriorate further due to AL?s such attitude towards opposition BNP.

The Ambassadors of the European nations called for dialogue between the parties to resolve the political problems and create congenial environment to attract foreign companies to make investment in Bangladesh.

During a two-day visit to Dhaka, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Indian Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee urged all political actors to settle their differences through dialogue and plan for free and fair elections.

Awami League General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam made his stand clear that there was no alternative to dialogue for breaking the current political standoff.

BNP Acting Secretary-General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir also categorically said that his party was ready to sit for dialogue anywhere.

Source: daily-sun.com

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