The ruling Awami League on Saturday urged the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party to join discussions to find out an amicable solution to the caretaker government issue.
AL leaders also said the door for talks on the issue had not been closed and that the party would formally invite the BNP to a discussion, if necessary, on the issue.
'Let us discuss the issue for finding out an amicable solution,' AL general secretary Syed Ashraful Islam said in reply to a query at a press briefing after a meeting of the AL secretariat at the party chief's Dhanmondi office in the afternoon.
He, however, said that that the issue should be settled in line with the court verdict and it was still possible to find a solution.
'We are sincerely requesting them to join discussions; one should not mistake our sincerity for deceit,' said Ashraf, reminding the BNP that there was no alternative to discussion to reach an understanding over the caretaker issue.
'Whatever is said now, discussions will be held in time and a solution will come…What is required is patience,' he said.
The Supreme Court in a verdict on May 10 declared the caretaker government provision unconstitutional and void.
After the verdict, prime minister Sheikh Hasina had said there was hardly any chance to keep the provision for an election-time caretaker government and the parliamentary special committee on constitution amendment recommended scrapping of the system.
In response, the BNP-led alliance vowed tougher agitation and already enforced a 36-hour countrywide hartal.
In reply to a question, the AL general secretary also said that the deals signed with the US oil company ConocoPhillips for exploration and extraction of gas from two offshore blocks in the Bay of Bengal was an agreement and nothing had been hidden there.
'It is not illegal or shady. Everything is open in the agreement and it has been done for economic development of the country considering the increasing demand for gas.
The AL secretariat also finalised the programme for celebration of the party's 62nd founding anniversary on June 23.
The programmes include hoisting of national and party flags at all party offices at 7:30am, a discussion meeting at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre at 11:00am and cultural programmes at the party's Bangabandhu Avenue office in the evening.
Source: New Age
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