Editorial
Khaleda's initiative
President's moral authority can help resolve crisis
THE opposition leader and BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia's seeking the president's mediation to initiate a dialogue at the general secretary level of the opposition and the ruling parties to resolve existing political impasse is admittedly a step in the right direction. In this hour of need, the president as the nation's guardian would do well to exercise his moral influence to bring the two parties at the talking table to settle the crisis created over the nature of the poll-time government.
We welcome the opposition leader's taking up the issue with the head of the state for his good offices. But she could have made this move even earlier to avoid hartal and other agitation programmes to press home her demands.
That is because time is now the most precious asset to resolve the task at hand. At this point, she should also join parliament to reinforce her call for dialogue.
The ruling party should not fail to notice the opposition's overture to the president and its keenness to resolve the crisis amicably. It should now come forward to meet the crisis head-on rather than bury its head in the sand.
The fact remains, though, that being in the government, the onus actually lies on the ruling party to take a lead role in reaching a consensus with the opposition on polls-time government.
Meanwhile, nation looks forward to the president's exalted office to intercede as a facilitator to help address the present crisis over holding the next general election in a peaceful and inclusive manner.
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