LDA set for dialogue with PM

Left Democratic Alliance (LDA) will sit with the prime minister as well as continue its movement for a free and fair election, LDA Coordinator Saiful Huq said yesterday.

The dialogue is scheduled to be held around 7:30pm tomorrow at Gono Bhaban, the official residence of the premier, in the capital.

“We will take part in the dialogue as part of our movement [for fair polls]. At the same time, protests on the streets will continue,” Saiful said, while speaking at a press conference.

LDA, a coalition of eight left-leaning political parties, organised the conference at Mukti Bhaban in the city to protest recent police harassment of its leaders in Satkhira.

As part of the movement, LDA at the programme announced a march and campaign across the country tomorrow to wage their four-point demand in order to create a suitable environment for a free, fair and acceptable election.

The demands are: formation of a neutral caretaker government for the 11th national polls; dissolution of the current parliament before announcing the election schedule; reconstitution of the Election Commission (EC); and reformation of the existing election system by banning the use of money and muscle.

In the last couple of months, LDA staged several demonstrations across the country for meeting their demands.

On October 31, the ruling Awami League (AL) invited the alliance to a dialogue. LDA, a day later, submitted a list of a 16-member

delegation to the prime minister. The premier fixed the schedule for talks yesterday. The delegation will be led by Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) President Mujahidul Islam Selim, also a leader of LDA.

Speaking at yesterday's press conference, Saiful, also general secretary of Revolutionary Workers Party of Bangladesh (RWPB), alleged that the police of Satkhira did not allow them to hold a rally, scheduled for November 1, in the district's Tala upazila.

In addition, police vandalised their stage and arrested local LDA leaders. Even, the district's deputy commissioner (DC) and superintendent of police (SP) misbehaved with the central LDA leaders, who went to them to discuss the issue, he added.

Condemning the incident, Saiful demanded immediate dismissal of the DC and SP of Satkhira for such arrogant behaviour.

CPB General Secretary Shah Alam, Socialist Party of Bangladesh (SPB) Central Committee Member Bazlur Rashid Firoz and Ganasamhati Andolan's Chief Coordinator Zonayed Saki were also present at the press conference.