Release leaders for talks: BNP

The BNP sees the detention of its leaders as the main obstacle to a dialogue with the government for ending the current political impasse in the country.

”Talks require a certain environment. Can talks take place when our leaders are behind bars?,” Party chief Khaleda Zia's Advisor Shamsuzzaman Dudu asked a press conference at BNP's Naya Paltan headquarters on Saturday.

”We are not against it (talks),” he said.

His comment comes hours after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina renewed her offer for dialogue to the opposition on Saturday.

”I would like to tell the Prime Minister, please create an environment and then talk about talks,” he said.

”Please clarify the reason for the talks. We will have no objection then,” he said.

“My offer to hold dialogue is still open,” Hasina had said on Saturday adding that the government prefers talks to avoid violence.

BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia has persistently rejected the Prime Minister's overtures for a dialogue to resolve the current impasse.

Sheikh Hasina-led government scrapped the interim government provision for conducting parliament polls through the 15th Amendment to the constitution after it came to power.

The Opposition wants the caretaker system to be restored and says an election held under the present government will not be 'free and fair'.

The BNP-led opposition had been on the streets ever since to back its demand.