Editorial
A deliberate act of denigration
But it shouldn't be an excuse for rejecting dialogue
We note with disgust the celebration of Khaleda Zia's birthday, coinciding with the day that the nation officially and spontaneously mourns the assassination of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman along with all but two members of his family.
This goes down as an act of provocation, making light of the seriousness of the day, and in bad taste. Besides, BNP has done nothing to allay the misgivings and doubts about the date of their leader's birth which occur differently in the records.
Yet, we are surprised at the AL general secretary Syed Ashraful Haque's dismissing any 'possibility of sitting in a dialogue or compromising with a party which celebrates fake birthday on the death anniversary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.'
Let the people judge for themselves as to the deviant and indecorous celebration of birthday of the BNP leader. But it is highly impolitic on the part of Awami League general secretary to be rejecting any prospect for dialogue with the BNP.
Since the amendment of the constitution invalidating the caretaker system, there have been verbal offers of talks from the ruling party to BNP. When a UN special envoy came, Awami League pledged to write a letter inviting the BNP for talks that never really got written. This betrayed a lack of intent as it unfortunately does now with Asharful's latest statement.
Dialogue is a political necessity that need not be contingent on any subjective consideration. While we agree with Ashraful's sentiments we cannot accept his reactionary response.
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