The people are now doubtful over the outcome of the planned talks between the Awami League and recently-formed coalition Jatiya Oikya Front after the High Court raised the jail term for party chief Khaleda Zia in the Orphanage Trust graft, says the BNP.
Speaking to the media on Tuesday, Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said that the verdict ‘reflected the government’s desire’.
Earlier in the day, the court scaled up the jail term to 10 years from five years for former prime minister Khaleda.
“We reject this verdict,” Mirza Fakhrul said before adding: “Dialogue between the prime minister and the Oikya Front is scheduled for tomorrow (Wednesday). The people are clear about the Awami League’s sincerity over the talks and its outcome.”
The media referred to Khaleda being barred from the polls after the latest verdict. Will the BNP take part in the polls if the government accepts the other demands?
Responding to that question, the senior BNP leader said that they will discuss the issue in the party’s policymaking forum.
Asked what would be the BNP’s stance in the talks, “We will stick to the seven-point demands. There’s no other issue.”