Bangladesh's feuding ruling-opposition nearly reach consensus

Bangladesh's ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and the main opposition Awami League (AL), which are feuding on electoral reforms and holding talks seeking a settlement, Tuesday nearly reached a consensus on the fourth-day of their talks.

"Our talks were also held in a very cordial atmosphere. We have reached very close to a consensus on the issues," AL General Secretary Abdul Jalil told private television Ntv after talks with his counterpart BNP Secretary General Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan.

"We are trying to resolve the issues," Jalil said.

Bhuiyan also echoed the same comments Jalil made to the television channel Ntv. He said that they would have to go to their respective parties -- BNP and AL -- for taking their opinion. "We will have to take their opinion," Bhuiyan said.

Bhuiyan said they would sit again on Oct. 16 for further talks. Bhuiyan and Abdul Jalil of the main opposition AL are holding talks in a bid to reach a satisfactory solution of the electoral reforms the AL is wanted and agitating for the last 18 months.

AL said that former Chief Justice of Bangladesh KM Hasan scheduled to be the chief of the caretaker administration to supervise the next general elections in January next year is not acceptable to them, because he was once a BNP official.

AL also demanded removal of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Justice MA Aziz and three his deputies as he made himself controversial at the time of updating the existing voterlist defying a court ruling.

AL said under these people no elections would be free and fair. So they cannot join the next general elections under these people.

AL has proposed the name of another retired Chief Justice Mahmudul Amin to be appointed the chief of caretaker administration,

But Prime Minister Khaleda Zia on Monday said that nothing would be accepted beyond constitution of the country.

"Nothing will take place beyond the constitution and the next general elections will be held under the caretaker government," she told a public meeting referring to the ongoing dialogues.

"We want peace and consensus. It does not mean that we have to accept whatever the opposition wants," the prime minister said.

In Bangladesh the general elections are held under a non- partisan caretaker government in line with the country's constitution. The constitution stipulates that the immediate past chief justice will head the caretaker administration. If not, the chief justice retired before him and third retired chief justice.

AL chief and former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina urged her party leaders on Monday to have patients and work to make the ongoing talks successful.

"We will see the last of the talks. Then we will announce agitation what necessary," Hasina said.

Source: Xinhua