BNP questions motive behind political dialogue

Dhaka: Main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has questioned the "motive" behind initiatives to launch a political dialogue as President Zillur Rahman kicked off the talks with political parties on formation of a new election commission.

"Our constitution says that the prime minister will propose something and the president will sign it. We failed to ascertain the motive behind such an initiative by the president," BNP's acting secretary-general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir told newsmen late yesterday.

Hinting at Rahman, Alamgir said "highly respected people do not determine the country's politics" and added that BNP would decide on joining the dialogue after discussions in party forum. The opposition comments came as the president earlier yesterday started his first day dialogue with former president and Jatiya Party chief Hussain Mohammad Ershad and left-leaning Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal.