PM's dialogue with Jukta Front ends

The dialogue between the Awami League-led 14-party alliance and the Jukta Front ended at the prime minister's official residence Ganabhaban Friday evening.

Awami League president and prime minister Sheikh Hasina led a 14-member delegation at the dialogue while Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh (BDB) president and Jukta Front chairman AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury a 21-member team.

UNB adds: At her opening speech, Sheikh Hasina said they want to hold a free, fair and neutral election so that people can choose their leadership. "To ensure how they will find that leadership is our aim," she said.

Mentioning that it is not possible to unleash development without the continuation of the democratic trend, the prime minister underscored the need for keeping up the trend as well as development pace on.

"We continued the democratic trend after a long struggle. We're working for people's welfare and taking the country forward. We want the continuation of this trend."
She also said the country's people will be able to cast their votes freely if the democratic trend continues. "We want to create this scope."

Welcoming the Jukta Front leaders to Ganabhaban, Sheikh Hasina said this is people's bhaban (building).

The other Jukta Front delegation members are BDB secretary general retired major Abdul Mannan, its presidium members Shamsher Mobin Chowdhury, Golam Sarwar Milon, Abdur Rouf Mannan, Mohammad Yousuf, vice president Mahmuda Chowdhury, former MP HM Golam Reza, BLDP president Nazimuddin Al Azad, its general secretary Delwar Hossain, Bangladesh NAP chairman Jebel Rahman Gani, its secretary general M Golam Mostafa Bhuiyan, National Democratic Party (NDP) chairman Khandaker Golam Mortuza, and Janata Party president Sheikh Asaduzzaman.

After the talks, the Jukta Front leaders will hold a press conference at B Chowdhury's Baridhara residence around 11pm, BDB president's press secretary Jahangir Alam told UNB.

On Thursday night, the Awami League-led 14-praty alliance and Jatiya Oikyafront had marathon discussions at Ganabhaban over the next general election.

Awami League president and prime minister Sheikh Hasina led a 23-member 14-party delegation while Gono Forum president Kamal Hossain a 20-member Jatiya Oikyafront team in the discussion.
On Tuesday, prime minister and Awami League president Sheikh Hasina invited B Chowdhury to join the talks at Ganabhaban as he sent a letter to her seeking talks over the next polls.