Sadeque Hossain Khoka, vice chairman of BNP, has said the ongoing political stalemate would be resolved in a day, if the government agrees to sit for dialogue with the BNP-led 20-party alliance.
Khoka made the observation while exchanging views with media representatives at Jackson Heights in New York on Sunday (local time) and said, “Dialogue can be held on the basis of Khaleda Zia’s seven-point proposal placed on December 31.”
The proposal includes holding of a fresh immediate inclusive election, creating a level playing field for all political parties, reconstitution of the Election Commission, dissolving parliament and cabinet before the election schedule is announced.
The former Dhaka city mayor, who has been out of politics lately, is fighting cancer in the US since June last year. He is being treated at Manhattan's Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre.
Even though his health condition is improving because of oral chemotherapy, he has no plan to return to the country right now due to fear of police harassment, he told The Daily Star early December.
Explaining the dialogue process, Khoka said talks can be started at expert level before holding discussion at the top level.
He also said the members of civil society could be included in the discussion process apart from the representatives of the opposition alliance.
“The talks can be held in an open place which can be telecast in the national television channel,” he added.
“We are ready to sit for any type of dialogue. We are not saying that Sheikh Hasina will have to quit power tomorrow and we will grab power immediately.
“We want restoration of a fair democratic system in the country. We will accept if Sheikh Hasina or any other force comes to power through that process,” he said.
Asked about continuing opposition’s movement amid SSC examinations, Khoka regretted for the inconvenience of the examinees.
He said the government is using SSC exams as an instrument to put the 20-party alliance in a difficult situation so that it is bound to give-up the ongoing movement.
Meanwhile, BNP joint secretary general, Salauddin Ahmed in a press statement today said that the party’s ongoing “peaceful movement” will continue until step down of the “anti-people government”.
“Sheikh Hasina’s dream, hanging on to power forcibly will be thwarted soon in the face of the mass movement,” the statement said undersigned by BNP joint secretary general Salahuddin Ahmed.
“Sheikh Hasina often says that she would do everything needed for the safety of people and their properties. But the people think their lives will be secured if you and your government resign,” he added.