She also thanked the Opposition leader for calling off their scheduled May 2 nationwide strike in response to her request.
“You have withdrawn your strike. Come, let us sit and talk,” Hasina said. “We can sit anywhere. We think parliament is the best place for talks. Come, let’s hear your demands.”
After calling off the strike, Khaleda Zia had said the Prime Minister should now accept the Opposition’s demand to reinstate the provision for a neutral caretaker government in the Constitution for the general elections.
Hasina has not responded to that but said talks could be held to resolve ‘political differences’.
The BNP-led 18-Party alliance has been on the streets ever since the Awami League-led administration annulled the interim caretaker government provision through the 15th Amendment to the Constitution in 2011.
The Opposition says that an election under the ruling party's dispensation cannot be free and fair.
Awami League General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam had said the ruling party was ready for talks, but without any precondition. The BNP, however, has been saying it would not take part in talks unless the government first concedes its demand for a non-partisan poll-time government.
Hasina has not given any indication of backing off from her party's stance of a firm 'no' to the caretaker system.
“The election will be decided by the people’s mandate. The Election Commission is now independent. The national election will be conducted by it as in other democratic countries,” she said recently.
“Shun strikes, come to Parliament and work for the welfare of the people,” Hasina said pointing to Khaleda.
The Prime Minister emphasised on keeping the flow of democracy uninterrupted in the country.
Hasina urged Khaleda to join Parliament proceedings. “I’d like to request the Leader of the Opposition to come to Parliament. We have set an example - the Speaker, Prime Minister, Opposition Leader and the Deputy Leader of Parliament are all women.
“…Let her (Khaleda) come to Parliament. Let there be at least one picture of us three (Speaker, Hasina and Khaleda) together so that everyone can see the unprecedented example of empowerment of women we have set.”
Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury was sworn in as the first woman Speaker of Bangladesh after Abdul Hamid took over as the President. Like Bangladesh, both Indian and Pakistani parliaments have women Speakers.
There has been growing pressure on the two leading ladies, who have alternated as Prime Ministers since Bangladesh returned from military rule to democracy in 1990, to begin negotiations to end the atmosphere of conflict and violence that is leading to frequent strikes and blockades, and adversely impacting the national economy.
Business leaders and civil society activists have requested the two leaders to start a dialogue. Some have even come up with 'solutions' to end the deadlock.