Civil society for a national dialogue

THE situation in the country is so desperate that it has gone far beyond the parameters of what we have so far known as political gridlocks. With innocents dying or burning out every day, law enforcers taking a toll in so-called cross-fires, economy, education, public health and livelihoods in jeopardy as BNP and AL swear by a fight-to-finish amid forebodings of a still darker future, any collective voice of sanity  rings out a positive note.

There appear to be two major agenda of the civic initiative -- one to break the deadlock between AL and BNP, and second, to produce a 'National Charter' outlining some converging views on conducting our national politics.

Though the ruling AL is totally opposed to any dialogue with the BNP, we believe such a stance is against its own long term self-interest. However, for even a hint of a dialogue to begin, BNP must stop the politics of killing that is being carried out in its name.

We strongly believe that the present violence is destroying our future and must immediately be stopped. We further believe that dialogue is the only process to stop it in any sustainable way.

We welcome this civic initiative and urge AL and BNP to help the process. After all, if they do not talk to each other, they can both talk to a third party and help restore peace.