After discussion with the PM, Oikya Front leaders were trying to salvage some positives to share with the media.

BNP secretary general, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, expressed regret since no one raised the incarceration of Khaleda Zia.

The PM did not budge an inch from her position, he added.

“Regarding Khaleda Zia’s imprisonment, the PM said it was a legal matter,” said Alamgir.

One leader who took part in the dialogue said the PM raised the issue of her not getting entry to BNP’s Gulshan office in 2015 after the death of Kahaleda Zia’s younger son, Arafat Rahman Coco.

During the dialogue on Thursday, the PM also indicated to BNPs Moudud Ahmed, who was present and said that while he was there at the BNP office in 2015 after Coco’s death, he did not come outside to greet the PM who had come to pass a message of condolence, said the Oikya Front leader.

Sources say no discussions were held over deployment of military or EVMs.

Before going to the discussion, it was decided that Dr. Zafrullah Chowdhury will not talk but after everyone spoke, the PM addressed him and asked him to make some observations.

Zafrullah started with the seven points demand and asked for the parliament to be dissolved.

He also requested a committee to chalk out a plant to form an election time government.

Hasanul Huq Inu talked of BNP-Jamaat led violence all over the country.

‘Not satisfied’ said Fakhrul Islam Alamgir while Dr. Kamal commented: “we did not get any solution from the PM’s speech.”

Zafrullah Chowdhury talked of four achievements: permission to hold rallies without any bar, promise of no new legal cases, allowing observers for next elections and asking by the PM of a list of political cases.

An important leader of the Oikya Front lamented the lack of preparedness by Oikya Front spokespersons.

Dr. Kamal could not carry out the negotiations or make any point, added another Oikya Front leader.

Convener of the Nagorik Oikya, Mahmudur Rahman Manna, said: “we did not take part in the dinner but took snacks and tea.”