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PM-DIALOGUE LEAD
PM urges JOF to take into account developments under AL
DHAKA, Nov 1, 2018 (BSS) – Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today called upon the Jatiya Oikya Front (JOF) leaders to take into account the country’s development in the past one decade under the incumbent government as she began a crucial dialogue with the opposition platform.
“Nine years and 10 months have passed after our government assumed power and you will surely consider the extent of development the country saw during the time,” she said in her introductory comments at the dialogue at here official Ganabhaban residence here.
Sheikh Hasina, also the Awami League president, added: “I will leave it to your judgment.”
The premier, earlier, greeted the opposition leaders as they arrived saying “Ganabhaban is people’s Bhaban (house) and I am welcoming all of you here”.
“The country is for all of us and … our main motto is to advance the country and make overall uplift of Bangladesh by changing the lot of the people,” she said.
At the outset of her speech, the premier recalled the sacrifice of three million martyrs and two lakh mothers and sisters saying “we earned this independence under the leadership of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman”.
JOF Convenor Dr Kamal Hossain leads a 20-member delegation that includes BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir while Sheikh Hasina heads a 23-member team of the Awami League-led 14-party alliance in the talks.
Earlier, the premier entered the Banquet Hall of Ganabhaban at 6:57 pm and took seat there along with other leaders of the 14-party alliance while the much-anticipated dialogue at about 7 pm at the Banquet Hall of Ganabhaban.
Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader and AL leaders Amir Hossain Amu, Tofail Ahmed, Begum Matia Chowdhury, Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, Mohammed Nasim, Kazi Zafar Ullah, Anisul Huq, Abdul Matin Khasru, Dr. Md. Abdur Razzak, Ramesh Chandra Sen, Mahbub-ul Alam Hanif, Dr. Dipu Moni, Jahangir Kabir Nanak, Abdur Rahman, Dr. Abdus Sobhan Golap, Dr. Hasan Mahmud and S. M. Rezaul Karim represent Awami League in the talks.
Sammayabadi Dal General Secretary Dilip Barua, Workers Party President Rashed Khan Menon, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JASOD) President Hasanul Huq Inu and another faction leader of the party Moinuddin Khan Badol joined the talks as partners of the ruling alliance.
BNP leaders other than the party’s secretary general, who take part in the dialogue are Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Moudud Ahmed, Jamiruddin Sircar and Mirza Abbas.
The other team members of the opposition alliance include Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) President ASM Abdur Rab, Gono Forum Executive President Advocate Subrata Chowdhury, Sultan Mohmmad Mansur, Mahmudur Rahman Manna, Gono Forum General Secretary Mostafa Mohsin Montu and Gonoshasthaya Kendra founder Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury.
BSS/SH/AR/2217 HRS