B'desh PM offers dialogue on election reforms

Brahmanbaria, Sep 14 (UNI) Bangladesh Prime Minister Khaleda Zia today offered a dialogue to the opposition, Awami League, on the election reforms proposed by the latter.

Begum Zia, who is also the chairperson of the ruling Bangladesh National Party (BNP), asked the opposition leader Sheik Hasina to discuss the reforms before her government hands over the power to a caretaker government next month for holding the forthcoming general election.

Earlier, the government had formed a team of the ruling alliance for dialogue on reforms proposed by the opposition, but the latter declined to sit across the table with the alliance delegation.

The opposition, while in power for five years, had not bring in the reforms because they did not feel its necessity, she observed at a public meeting here.

She said that, as per constitution, general election takes place every five years and the next polls would be held in 2007. ''The opposition wants to create constitutional and democratic vacuum in the country by deferring the elections.'' ''We believe the people of Bangladesh remain in favour of peace and development. The current government has given these two things,'' she said, adding people will again elect BNP in the next election to advance the trend of development and maintain peace and stability.

She urged people to take the right decision in the next general election, as they did in 2001 by bringing BNP and its alliance to power.

Listing her government's massive development activities and achievements, she said the economy has become strong following an increase in the public income, purchasing capacity, employment, and export earning. Also, the health service and education have got a boost while poverty has reduced under our leadership.

''But the opposition, instead of co-operating, has obstructed every step through chaos, destruction and arson attacks,'' she said.

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