No talks until violence stops, AL tells EU team

The ruling Awami League has told the visiting European Union parliamentary delegation that the party will not sit in a dialogue with BNP until the ongoing violence stops.
"If it is necessary to hold discussions with BNP on free, fair and credible elections and on how to strengthen the Election Commission or on other election system, Awami League will do," said Prime Minister's International Affairs Adviser Gowher Rizvi.
"But, Awami League will do everything within the constitutional and democratic process," Rizvi added while briefing journalists on a meeting with the delegates of the European Parliament's Subcommittee on Human Rights.
Besides Rizvi, AL General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam, PM's advisers HT Imam and Moshiur Rahman, AL's International Affairs Secretary Faruq Khan and the party's Joint General Secretary Dipu Moni were present at the hour-long meeting held at AL president's Dhanmondi office this afternoon.
"The discussions may be arranged before the next election. Containing violence is the first priority of the government at this moment," Rizvi also said.
Following the meeting, the EU delegates did not make any comment before the media but said they will later issue a press release in this regard.