16-member LDA delegation to hold talks with Hasina

Left Democratic Alliance (LDA), a coalition of eight left-leaning political parties, yesterday submitted a list of a 16-member delegation to the prime minister, requesting her to fix a schedule for talks.

The LDA leaders submitted the names after Awami League (AL) on Wednesday invited the alliance for a dialogue and asked them to submit the names.

LDA leader Mujahidul Islam Selim, president of Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB), will lead the delegation, alliance leaders told The Daily Star.

CPB General Secretary Shah Alam, Socialist Party of Bangladesh (SPB) General Secretary Khalekuzzaman, SPB Central Committee Member Bazlur Rashid Firoz, Revolutionary Workers Party of Bangladesh (RWPB) General Secretary Saiful Huq, Ganasamhati Andolan Chief Coordinator Zonayed Saki and Ganatantrik Biplobi Party General Secretary Moshrefa Mishu -- are among the delegation members.

Four LDA leaders, including CPB Presidium Member Abdullah Kafee Ratan, around 5:00pm yesterday submitted the list and a letter to AL Office Secretary Abdus Sobhan Golap at AL President Sheikh Hasina's political office in Dhanmondi.

AL General Secretary Obaidul Quader, Joint General Secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif and other leaders were also present, said Ratan.

 “We express gratitude after getting to know that you [the PM] are interested in discussing with LDA leaders about how to fix the crisis that created centring the 11th national general election,” reads the letter.

Asked about the tentative date of the talks, CPB presidium member Ratan said, "We are not sure about it yet. We have been told that we will be informed about the date and time soon."

The letter would be sent to Gono Bhaban and the premier will fix the date, he added.

In the last couple of months, LDA staged several demonstrations, demanding formation of a neutral caretaker government, dissolution of the current parliament before election schedule and reconstruction of the Election Commission.

On Tuesday, the alliance gave the government a 48-hour ultimatum to meet their demands. Otherwise, they threatened to go for a countrywide movement.

AL, a day later, called LDA coordinator Saiful Huq and invited them for dialogue.