BNP sees strains on president-PM relations over 'difference on talks'

The BNP is seeing tensions in the relations between the president and the prime minister as the heads of the state and the government 'differ on talks among political parties'.

Senior Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 18 Jan 2017, 08:15 PM
Updated : 18 Jan 2017, 08:15 PM

"I don't know whether the relations between the president and the government have strained today," BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir says.

During Tuesday's talks with some political parties on forming the next Election Commission, President Md Abdul Hamid suggested that the parties need to hold talks between themselves for fair elections.

Mirza Fakhrul referred to the president's suggestion while speaking of his suspicion over the relations between Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at a discussion on Wednesday.

"The president said the political parties should hold talks. We also want discussions, dialogues.

"The leader (BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia) has stressed the need for a democratic environment through talks between the political parties. But unfortunately the prime minister has rejected it," he added.

The BNP, failing to topple the government through movements, has been calling for dialogue to overcome what it calls a 'political crisis'.

The government is rejecting the demand, citing the BNP's violent protests and ties with the Jamaat-e-Islami, which had violently opposed Bangladesh's independence in 1971.

"When the leader (Khaleda) took the initiative and placed a proposal on forming the next Election Commission, the Awami League general secretary rejected it as 'empty'. Later we were a bit surprised after getting the president's invitation to the talks," Mirza Fakhrul said.

"We don't know whether there is any trick in the invitation. But if the president sincerely called the dialogue, he has spoken the truth. The people want an end to this political crisis through talks," he added.  

The BNP leader also hoped that the president will form an EC that will be 'acceptable to all'.