Khaleda for national dialogue

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia yesterday called upon the government to take initiatives for holding a national dialogue "for the sake of the nation".

"We hope that instead of blocking scope for democracy to flourish, the government will open the path to create an environment for a national dialogue, stepping away from its authoritarian attitude," she said in a press release signed by the party's acting spokesperson Asaduzzaman Ripon.

The BNP chief expressed hope that good sense would prevail among those in the government.

She said the country is in a deep crisis at the moment. "No one is feeling safe in or outside their home.

"Common people are not safe here now. Even two law enforcers were killed in a span of 13 days."

The former premier said her party has often called for a national unity and an all-party meeting as a step towards solving the crisis.

"I've repeatedly called for a national dialogue with sincerity ... Unfortunately, it's true that the government is yet to pay heed to our demand," Khaleda said, blaming the current government for the crisis.

The BNP chief also stressed the need for a national consensus on some fundamental issues like returning people's right to vote, letting the media work independently, encouraging all to work with conscience in all stages of the judiciary, not preventing law enforcement agencies from working independently, depoliticising the administration and letting it work independently, reconstituting the Election Commission with impartial people in it and releasing all political prisoners and withdrawal of cases against them.

Terming the BNP a democratic party, Khaleda said her party does not support any sort of extremism and its stance against all forms of violence is very clear.

KHALEDA'S RETURN 'POSTPONED'

Khaleda yesterday once again postponed her return from London, which she had planned for November 10, a source close to the BNP chief said.

With this, she postponed the date of her departure from London seven times.

Earlier, Khaleda was scheduled to return home on October 7. Later, she postponed the date to October 18, 21, 27, and November 3, 7 and 10.

Party sources in London and Dhaka and in the BNP chief's family said she might not come back home before November 17, the day when the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court would deliver verdict on the appeal of war criminal Salauddin Quader Chowdhury.

Wishing anonymity, a source said one of the reasons for her extending the stay in London could be that she was trying to lobby with the BJP government in India from there to create pressure on the Awami League government for holding elections soon.