Staff Reporter:
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal yesterday said the government believes in dialogue, but it will be unconditional and within the frame of the country’s constitution.
“We welcome unconditional dialogue. We didn’t close the door. But discussion can be held only accord-ing to the constitution,” he told journalists after British High Commissioner Sarah Catherine Cook met him at his ministry office.
Additional Inspector General of Police (Addl-IGP) and Chief of the Special Branch Md Monirul Islam and Addl-IGP Md Kamrul Ahsan were present during the call on and briefing.
Replying to a question about current political situation, the minister said that there was no significant discussion including the incidence of violence with the United Kingdom High Commissioner.
He said dialogue is the main tool to resolve crisis, adding, “We always welcome dialogue. We also think that political problems should be resolved through dialogue. But the dialogue has to be conducted within the framework of the constitution. Sarah Cook has also admitted this.”
Kamal said, “We also think that political problems should be resolved through dialogue. The dialogue has to be done according to the constitution.”
He added that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina always says that her party wants to do everything peaceful-ly.
“We want to discuss keeping the constitution in mind. We want a peaceful environment, not violence. The prime minister always directs us for dialogue,” he said.
The British Commissioner raised the issue of dialogue. “As we have said, we also believe in dialogue. Sarah Cook also said there is a need for dialogue,” he said.
Replying to another question the minister said BNP’s political stand, the minister said BNP does not want dialogue, they want violence and they want to create an unstable condition by anyway, as they know that they will not win the elections because people have turned away from them (BNP).
“People of our country do not want violence,” the minister stated.
Responding to another question, he said that incidents of burning of vehicles are happening at various places. “Our law enforcement agencies have been doing their job and will continue to do so. They are performing their responsibility diligently,” Kamal added.
Kamal said BNP is just repeating its activities that the party carried out in 2014.