After talks, Quader says he believes Jukto Front will contest in elections

AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury-led Jukto Front has sounded “very positive” in the talks with Sheikh Hasina ahead of the general elections, according to Obaidul Quader.

The 14-Party ruling coalition also “accepted” many of the demands raised by the Bikalpadhara Bangladesh-led Front, the Awami League general secretary said in a media briefing outside the Ganabhaban after the around three hours of dialogue on Friday.

“They appeared very positive to me. They spoke very positively and constructively about contesting in the elections,” Quader said.     

“It seemed they will join (elections),” he added.

Hasina opened a series of pre-election dialogues by sitting with Dr Kamal Hossain-led Jatiya Oikya Front, of which the BNP is a part, on Thursday. She is scheduled to hold talks with HM Ershad’s Jatiya Party next Monday.

A 21-strong Jukto Front delegation joined the talks with the demands for dissolution of parliament before the general elections to be overseen by a nonpartisan government.

Their other demands included evening the playing field and deployment of the army with magistracy powers during the polls, and no use of electronic voting machines or EVMs in the elections.

Jukto Front leaders later said they will have no qualms if parliament remains inactive before the polls.  

The constitution stipulates that the ruling party will remain in power during the balloting, but parliament will do only routine jobs; it cannot take any decision or project.

The Awami League has maintained that the next general elections, scheduled by the end of this year or early next year, will be held with Hasina continuing to head the government. 

“They (Jukto Front) did not push a lot for anything such as changes in the constitution,” Quader said.

“They appeared happy,” the Awami league leader added.

Speaking about parliament’s role before the elections, he said the government has started the projects it wanted before the polls.

“Our MPs and ministers are done with inaugurating projects in their areas. The prime minister herself inaugurated or laid foundation stone of 196 projects in Mymensingh today.

“We would not inaugurate so many projects if we had the chance to do so after the announcement of the election schedule,” he said.

Among other demands of the Jukto Front was deployment of the army during the polls with magistracy powers.

Quader said Hasina reiterated that the army will work as a reserve striking force and respond swiftly to calls from local administrations during the polls, if necessary.

“The prime minister said our army had been subjected to many games, controversies. Now they are hailed for their role in peacekeeping missions, disaster management.

“It will be better if we refrain from using them here and there,” he added.