Not enough time left for meaningful dialogue

The Awami League yesterday wrote back to US Assistant Secretary Donald Lu saying "there is not enough time for holding any meaningful dialogue" that would bring about tangible outcomes.

"Bangladesh Awami League had, for many months, kept the door open for unconditional dialogue with other political parties," read the letter, a copy of which The Daily Star obtained.

"However, such a dialogue could not be realised as the Bangladesh Nationalist Party [BNP] was, and remains, adamant on the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's government as a prerequisite for holding any such dialogue," it said.

It further said currently the BNP and its like-minded parties, like Jamaat-e-Islami, are holding political programmes like blockades, demanding the resignation of the government, and using arson attacks to enforce the blockades.

Even if the AL agreed to sit with the BNP and others, amidst the ongoing blockades, the BNP's conditions simply do not allow the holding of any meaningful dialogue, it added.

The letter also mentioned that the AL values its partnership with all international friends and hopes that they will offer all cooperation in presenting to the people of Bangladesh a free and fair election in a peaceful environment.

On behalf of AL General Secretary Obaidul Quader, the party's Central Executive Committee member Mohammad A Arafat yesterday handed over the response letter to Arturo Hines, acting deputy chief of mission at the US embassy.