Khaleda responds Kerry for talks

Khaleda Zia and John Kerry

DHAKA: In response to US Secretary of State John Kerry’s letter, Opposition BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia said she thinks that the ongoing political crisis in Bangladesh can be resolved through a constructive dialogue.

The opposition leader sent a letter to the US secretary of state on Wednesday in response to his letter in which he expressed concern and uncertainty over the ongoing political confrontation in Bangladesh.

BNP Vice-Chairman of the party Shamsher Mobin Chowdhury made the disclosure on Thursday.

“The opposition leader in her letter said the people of Bangladesh are similarly concerned over the next election as the world leaders voiced their worry over it,” he said.

He added: “She (Khaleda) thinks that a meaningful and constructive dialogue is the only way to find out an acceptable solution to the ongoing political crisis.” “Khaleda, however, mentioned in her letter that the dialogue depends on the good will of the government,” he said.

On September 8, John Kerry in two identical letters to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Opposition Leader Khaleda Zia urged them to engage in a constructive dialogue without further delay.

On August 23, amid the deepening political crisis in the country over the nature of polls-time administration, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon phoned Sheikh Hasina and her arch rival Khaleda Zia and urged them to sit in talks for reaching a consensus for holding free and fair polls.