Hailing the prime minister’s initiative to invite political parties for another round of talks, Gano Forum chief Dr Kamal Hossain, who leads the opposition coalition Jatiya Oikya Front, has hinted at joining it.
“We have been always in favour of dialogues and talks. It’s the Oikya Front which called for a national dialogue once again,” he told Bangla Tribune on Sunday (Jan 13).
His statement comes hours after the Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader told the media that party chief and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will invite political parties to talks again.
“The Oikya Front will seek to know (from the government) on the agenda of the talks and will decide on joining after discussing it within the coalition,” Kamal said before adding that they believe all issues should be solved through dialogues.
The Oikya Front’s largest member BNP said that they would consider the matter after getting an invitation.
“They can invite if they want … We will decide after an invitation,” Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir told Bangla Tribune.
The Jatiya Oikya Front was formed in October last year, led by Gono Forum President Kamal Hossain. The alliance that includes BNP and other registered and unregistered parties pressed for a seven-point list of demands.
These demands included dissolving parliament ahead of the polls and the release of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia from jail.
The Oikya Front then called for talks amid the Election Commission’s preparations for the polls.
Awami League chief and Prime Minister Hasina rather unexpectedly agreed and met the Oikya Front leaders at the Ganabhaban.
Afterwards various parties and alliances sat for meetings with the leader of the government. The Jatiya Oikya Front announced later on that it would take part in the polls ‘as a part of its protest movement’ despite none of their demands being met.
After winning the 11th national election, the Awami League has formed government for a third straight term. Meanwhile the Oikya Front, which only won eight seats in the election, has refused to engage in parliament and called for an immediate new election.
The Kamal Hossain-led alliance then announced plans for a ‘national dialogue’, which Awami League leader Quader dismissed as laughable two days ago, before telling the media on Sunday that the prime minister will go for another round of talks with political parties.