The Jatiya Oikya Front says it did not find any specific solution from the talks with the ruling Awami League-led coalition.
“Our leaders have raised their issues and the prime minister heard them before delivering a rather long speech, but we did not find any specific solution there,” said the new alliance’s leader Dr Kamal Hossain.
“However, she said some good things on holding rallies and programmes,” he added.
Thursday’s talks opened up room for further discussions, according to Dr Kamal.
“We have told what we had to say and that was the case for her (the prime minister) as well.”
Apart from the assurance of freely holding rallies no other solution came from the talks, said the senior lawyer.
Gano Forum President Dr Kamal led the Oikya Front delegation, which included BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and four other leaders of the party, to the talks at the Ganabhaban on Thursday.
Awami League chief and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina led the 22-strong delegation of the 14-party Alliance her party leads.
Gano Forum Executive President Subrata Chowdhury told the press conference that the prime minister has told them that the Oikya Front will be able to hold rallies and programmes across the country.
“She said that political parties will be able to hold rallies freely and that she has already instructed the law enforcers,” said Chowhdury.
He said that the prime minister asked to provide a list of cases deemed as politically motivated. “She said that she will look in to the issue and make sure that political activists are not harassed.”
Chowdhury said that the prime minister told them that further discussion will be held over the demands raised by Oikya Front.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul said, “We have asked the prime minister to defer the polls. She said that it was the Election Commission’s call.”
Responding to a query on BNP chief Khaleda Zia’s release, he said “It was raised. But the prime minister did not address it specifically, but said these issues can be discussed in the future.”
Asked whether the BNP is optimistic, Mirza Fakhrul said, “I have already said that I am not satisfied over the talks.
Oikya Front spokesperson and JSD chief ASM Abdur Rab, however, said their movement for the demands will continue.
“We have floated a seven-point demand. It’s up to the government whether they will accept it or not. We will continue with our movement,” he said.