AL open to talks: Hanif

Awami League Joint General Secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif on Sunday accused BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia of making an effort to push the country toward anarchy by rejecting options for dialogue.

He, however, ruled out any possibility of coming of another 1/11, which refers to imposition of state of emergency in the wake of violence following expiry of Khaleda Zia’s last term as Prime Minister in 2006.Hanif, also a special aide to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, said options for talks were still open.“Anywhere, anytime,” he said in response to Khaleda’s comment that she was unwilling to sit with government to resolve current political impasse involving who would oversee next elections.Hanif cleared the ruling Awami League’s position on the issue when he talked to reporters in front of the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum on Sunday. The nation is marking the 93rd birth anniversary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on Sunday.

Khaleda at a rally in Manikganj on Saturday declined to propose any offer to the government for talks hours after her close aide Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir sought a formal proposal for discussion.

Also on Saturday, Awami League’s General Secretary and LGRD Minister Syed Ashraful Islam responded positively to Mirza Fakhrul’s statement, saying they were open to talks.

But later on Saturday, Khaleda put brakes on the enthusiasm as she saw no points of talking to the government. She dubbed the government ‘murderer’ and vowed to continue movement to remove the administration of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, if needed through more shutdowns and blockades.

On Sunday, Hanif said they would still welcome any options for talks.

On whether the current political impasse could invite a situation like 1/11, Hanif said, “There is no such fear. People and the Awami League think, there’s no possibility of another one-eleven.”