Govt embarrassed over ministers’ excessive talks:Daily Sun

  The government has been facing embarrassing situations over some ministers’ excessive talks on crucial issues, especially on major opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s demand for talks and the government’s legitimacy. “The Awami League wants the ministers and senior leaders speak cautiously before public, but they hardly go by the directive of the party’s president and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina,” said a senior leader, wishing not to be named. “They have been delivering statements at their own. Though the government has been embarrassed over the remarks, it seems that there is nobody to oversee them,” said the leader. Observers also opined that lack of co-ordination within the party and government has become apparent since the senior leaders are coming up with different opinions and controversial statements after Khaleda Zia’s proposal for the talks. Party insiders said though the government is being embarrassed by leaders, the party did not issue any sort of warnings to them. After assuming office for the consecutive second time, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina directed her ministers and advisors to speak cautiously before the media. But some ministers and leaders have turned a deaf ear to the directive and have been speaking at their own will while BNP has been trying to take the street capitalizing the recent remarks of some senior ministers. After the proposal of talks from BNP, some senior leaders in separate programmes came up with contradictory statements in response to the proposal. Suranjit Sengupta, who served the previous cabinet of Awami League-led regime, said there is no obstacle in holding talks if the BNP acknowledges its mistakes and shuns the path of violence, and goes by the constitution. Meanwhile, Communications Minister Obaidul Quader just a day later told reporters that there was no alternative to dialogue in resolving the crisis. “How can she want to hold talks with the government since she termed this government illegal?” Obaidul Quader posed a question. Brushing aside the demand of talks, two other AL leaders said no dialogue would be held before 2019. AL joint general secretary told reporters that the country is not experiencing any crisis that could make the government to sit for talks with BNP. But, AL Publication Secretary at a programme said AL would consider the demand of talks if BNP severs its ties with Jamaat and seeks pardon before the nation for their misdeeds. Even some of the lawmakers of AL and 14-party alliance made contradictory statements on the same issue. A sense of confusion has been created among the leaders and activists of the party centering the contradictory statements of senior AL leaders. Expressing concern, many AL leaders asked as to what would happen if BNP announces to sever its tie with Jamaat and asks the government to sit for the talks. Mentioning that some ministers and AL leaders are saying that no dialogue would be held before the completion of the full tenure of the government, many grassroots leaders and activists said they would like to know the actual stance of the government regarding the issue. Apart from the proposal of talks, contradictory statements of some ministers regarding BNP’s concern over the legitimacy of the government also embarrassed the party. BNP, which boycotted the January 5 elections, have been terming the incumbent government and parliament illegal from the day one of AL regime. All the powerful countries congratulated the incumbent government and legitimated the government and signed deals involving billion dollars. A strong uproar has been raised in the party as two influential AL leaders delivered statements regarding BNP’s concern over the legitimacy of the government. Regarding the talks, the two leaders said the BNP have to legitimate the government first and sever ties with if they want dialogue. Health minister Mohammad Nasim at a programme asked BNP to legitimate the government first. After the statements, the BNP-Jamaat tried to take the street making the statements as an issue. BNP acting general secretary Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir in his reaction said the statements of the two Awami League leaders proved that the government had been illegal. “As they are illegitimate, they seek legitimacy from us,” he said. The statements of the two leaders made some senior AL leaders aggrieved. On condition of anonymity, some leaders said excessive talks of some leaders would bring disaster for the party. They said that January 5 election was held in line with the constitution, the government was formed and the international community has also legitimated the government. They criticised the two influential leaders for seeking ‘legitimacy’ of the government from BNP. “If they think themselves as illegal, they can step aside but they do not have the rights to embarrass the government,” said some AL leaders. Besides, some lawmakers also expressed grievances over a statement of post and telecommunication minister Abdul Latif Siddique who in parliament termed Sheikh Hasina as a two-and a half-time Prime Minister.