DHAKA, 23 October 2007 — The Awami League yesterday agreed to hold talks with the Bangladesh Election Commission officials after the caretaker government spurned the party’s proposal for talks on electoral reforms and political issues.
The Awami League headed by former Bangladeshi Premier Hasina Wajed decided to hold talks with the Election Commission officials on Nov. 4.
A meeting of the party’s working committee presided over by its acting President Zillur Rahman demanded the release of party President Hasina and other detained leaders.
The meeting decided to form a committee to finalize its reform proposals before talks with commission officials.
The Election Commission had sent a letter to AL acting General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam earlier inviting party officials for talks on electoral reforms, but the party said it was willing to hold talks with the government and not the commission. The government rejected the proposal.
The party, at the meeting yesterday, also demanded release of party’s General Secretary Abdul Jalil and other leaders and withdrawal of cases against them.
