They start talking

Putting an end to a day of intense speculation, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia finally spoke on phone on Saturday to explore possibilities of a dialogue.

Hasina invited Khaleda to dinner on Monday evening and requested her to consider opening talks to end the country’s current political impasse, bdnews24.com’s Sumon Mahbub reported.

“Please withdraw the 60-hour strike as I am sincere about a dialogue to ensure an inclusive election,” Hasina was quoted as telling Khaleda.

“Come to my residence with as many of your leaders as you want. Let us talk frankly,” the Prime Minister is reported to have said.

After several failed attempts to get on phone, the two leading ladies of Bangladesh politics managed to speak for exactly 37 minutes.

PMO Correspondent Sumon Mahbub says when the Prime Minister invited the Leader of the Opposition for talks, the BNP leader argued that it would be difficult for her to travel during the general strike, which her party and alliance had called. “Why not withdraw the strike?,” Mahbub quoted the PM as telling Khaleda Zia.

While on the line both were assisted by their top aides, according to BNP Correspondent Sumon Mahmud and PMO Correspondent Mahbub.

Mahmud says acting BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and her former Private Secretary Sabihuddin Ahmed were with Khaleda when she spoke with Hasina.

An ADC to the Prime Minister called Shamsur Rahman Shimul Biswas, Khaleda Zia's special assistant, and then the phones were handed to the two leaders, Sumon Mahbub said.   

Awami League General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam, Advisory Council members Tofail Ahmed and Amir Hossain Amu, Presidium member Kazi Zafarullah, Prime Minister's Advisors HT Imam and Moshiur Rahman, Joint General Secretary Dipu Moni were at the Prime Minister’s side during the phone call.

With Khaleda were acting Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and her Press Secretary Maruf Kamal Khan.