DHAKA, Nov 17, 2023 (BSS) - Awami League (AL) today officially responded to US proposed dialogue among major parties over Bangladesh's upcoming elections saying, time constraints would debar any such dialogue to yield any "tangible outcome" while atmosphere for such talks does not exist either.

"Even if AL were on board to sit with the BNP and others, amidst the ongoing blockades and the principal demand of such programmes, the conditions simply do not exist for holding any meaningful dialogue," read the ruling party letter signed by its General Secretary Obaidul Quader.

It said the political parties would need to devote all their time to electoral tasks in the coming weeks as the schedule for the 12th parliamentary elections were announced by now.

"This means that even if all the conditions were favourable for a dialogue, there simply is not enough time for holding any meaningful dialogue with tangible outcomes," AL said in reply to US assistant secretary of state Donald Lu's letter handed over to ruling party two days ago.

US Ambassador in Dhaka Peter D Haas handed over Lu's letter to Quader on Wednesday hours before Chief Election Commission Kazi Habibul Awal announced the schedule fixing January 7 for voting.

AL issued the letter on November 15 while its copy was made available to the media today.

Following is the text of the AL letter addressed to LU:

On behalf of Bangladesh Awami League ("AL"), I would like to extend my gratitude to you, Assistant Secretary Donald Lu and Ambassador Peter D. Haas, and the U.S. State Department for the letter dated November 12, 2023. AL appreciates the help and assistance being offered by our international friends and partners to make the upcoming national parliamentary election free, fair and violence-free.

At the outset, I would like to reiterate our party's commitment to holding free and fair elections at all levels for upholding the country's democratic process. Our party considers people's right to franchise a sacred one and has a long and illustrious political legacy of unrelenting struggles and sacrifices for securing, and maintaining, that right. Led by our visionary Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who is also the President of AL, the current government in Bangladesh has undertaken several structural, financial, human-resources, legal and other reforms to make the Bangladesh Election Commission ("EC") a truly independent organisation, as mandated by the Constitution of Bangladesh. This includes photo-based voter ID cards, transparent ballot boxes, and enacting a law for the appointment of election commissioners.

As you are aware, the Bangladesh Election Commission has already announced the schedules for the 12th national parliamentary election. The election is scheduled for January 7, 2024, while the last date for submission of nominations is November 30, 2023. Bangladesh Awami League had, for many months, kept the door open for unconditional dialogue with other political parties. However, such a dialogue could not be realised as the Bangladesh Nationalist Party ("BNP") was, and remains, adamant on the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's Government as a prerequisite for holding any such dialogue.

Currently BNP and their like-minded allies like Jamaat-E-Islami are observing coercive continuous political programmes like blockades to demand the resignation of the government, among others, and using arson attacks as the means of enforcing such blockades. According to the Department of Fire Service and Civil Defence, between October 28 and November 13, a total of 154 arson attacks have been carried out by blockade supporters.

Thus, even if AL were on board to sit with the BNP and others, amidst the ongoing blockades and the principal demand of such programmes, the conditions simply do not exist for holding any meaningful dialogue. Additionally, in the coming weeks, political parties will have to devote all their time to finalising their electoral tasks, including reviewing and finalising the nominees of 300 constituencies, preparing their manifestos, finalising campaign strategies, campaign to the voters etc. This means that even if all the conditions were favourable for a dialogue, there simply is not enough time for holding any meaningful dialogue with tangible outcomes.

Bangladesh Awami League values its partnership with all international friends and hopes that they will offer all cooperation in presenting to the people of Bangladesh a free and fair election in a peaceful environment.