HC rules on polls talks

The High Court on Wednesday asked why ruling Awami League President Sheikh Hasina and opposition BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia would not be ordered to start a dialogue to ensure a free and fair national election.

The vacation bench of Justice Nizamul Huq and Justice Zafar Ahmed issued the rule after hearing a petition filed by Yunus Ali Akhand, a lawyer known for filing public interest petitions.

The court has also asked the Home Secretary to respond to the rule within four weeks.

Akhand had filed the petition on Mar 14.

At the hearing, the lawyer argued that over 150 people had died in the recent countrywide violence apparently triggered by the current political deadlock. He said an order was necessary to force the two leading ladies to dialogue for the sake of a free, fair and acceptable national election.

The BNP-led opposition alliance had been on the streets demanding restoration of the old neutral caretaker system to oversee the parliament elections ever since the government scrapped the caretaker government provision through the 15th Amendment to the Constitution.

Amid the standoff, various quarters have been advocating talks between Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia to end the deadlock.

Awami League General Secretary and LGRD minister Syed Ashraful Islam has recently said his party was ready for talks with the BNP but insisted that the opposition must speak without any pre-conditions.

During a recent rally in Manikganj, Khaleda dismissed the possibilities of talks and called for intensified agitation to oust the government.

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