Abrar Hussain: In response to Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader’s remarks regarding dialogue, BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said his party has some ‘specific demands’ on which discussions should be held.
He made the remarks at a press conference in party’s Naya Paltan party office yesterday, reports Banglanews.
Quader had initially said that dialogue cannot be held with BNP ‘under any preconditions’.
In response, Rizvi said, “So what kind of discussions they want? We cannot discuss with an empty table. We have some demands and talks should be held on those topics. We might end up in a place with some agreements that way. We want to discuss on how to ensure safe voting environments for voters but they don’t want to discuss it. Therefore I cannot see transparency here.”
The senior BNP leader urged the ruling party men to come to talks table with a ‘transparent mind’.
“If dialogues are held, a free, fair and inclusive election will be possible. You can not hold election by locking up BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia. Parliament must be dissolved, Election Commission must be reformed and the election must be held under a non-partisan government.”
Rizvi also condemned Prime Minister’s ICT advisor Sajeeb Wazed Joy’s remarks on arrested photographer Shahidul Alam, claiming that Joy is encouraging police brutality on Shahidul.