'Talks after strike'

The BNP has refused Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's dinner invitation to Opposition Leader Khaleda Zia for Monday.

Khaleda's Press Secretary Maruf Kamal Khan told a news briefing that the 60-hour nationwide strike starting from Sunday cannot be called off.

The briefing was called immediately after arch-rivals Hasina and Khaleda spoke over the phone for about 37 minutes.

The Prime Minister invited Khaleda to dialogue over dinner.

Khaleda said talks with the ruling party could take place after the strike ended on Tuesday.

Responding to the Prime Minister’s request to withdraw the shutdown, Khaleda said the strike could not be called off as it was the declared programme of the 18-Party alliance.

“The Opposition Leader told the Prime Minister that alliance leaders are currently scattered all over because of police raids. The decision to withdraw the strike can’t be taken at such short time by calling a meet.”

“The Opposition chief also said that the strike could have been withdrawn if the Prime Minister had called on Friday . It would have been possible to organise an 18-party meeting," Kamal said.

“The Opposition Leader also told her [Hasina] that the announced shutdown will be withdrawn if the Prime Minister on principle agrees that the next elections will be held under a non-party government,” said the Press Secretary to the BNP chief.

Responding to the Prime Minister’s dinner invitation at Ganabhaban on Monday, Khaleda told her, “The strike will be in effect that day. I will respond to your call for talks any time after Oct 29 evening.”

About reaching an understanding, she told Hasina, “You have proposed an all-party government. I’ve proposed a non-party interim government. I think an understanding can be reached through taking these two proposals together.”

The BNP Chairperson was waiting at her Gulshan residence in the evening for the Prime Minister’s call.

She went the Gulshan office around 9pm after speaking with Hasina.

However, Khaleda also urged the Prime Minister to end the crisis through talks putting an end to the endless accusations.

"We want to introduce a new way of politics. We want a fresh start."

Regarding the Prime Minister's all-party polls-time Cabinet proposal, Maruf Kamal quoted Khaleda as saying, "The proposal you have given is not acceptable by the nation."

Hasina had called Khaleda on Saturday noon on the VIP red telephone, but failed to reach her.

Khaleda said the phone was out of order for a long time. "It was not fixed even after many complaints. Today it was shown to the mediapersons. This phone is dead."

"A staff at the telephone department told the media that my red telephone was working fine to carry out a political campaign. I would like to see what steps you take against that person."

An ADC to the Prime Minister called Shamsur Rahman Shimul Biswas, Khaleda Zia's Special Assistant, and then the phones were handed to the two leaders.

About Khaleda's red telephone, Hasina said, "I can’t say if the phone is dead, or it was made to be that way. I will see to it tomorrow."

Khaleda emphasised talks and told Hasina, "We have worked together in the past during different democratic movements. I had even gone to your [Hasina] house. Now we want to work together on a national issue at this critical moment for the nation."

However, Khaleda's Press Secretary Maruf Kamal Khan said the phone conversation was a good start. "We hope the Prime Minister will take forward the good start to telephonic conversation."

Awami League General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam said, “Today is very important. This is a historic day for Bangladesh’s politics.”