No alternative to talks: CEC

Dhaka, July 14 (bdnews24.com) ? The chief election commissioner (CEC) has voiced frustration over BNP's non-response to its invitation to dialogue.

"The two [major] parties should take part in the dialogue since there's no alternative to talks to resolve any problem. They need to meet and talk," A T M Shamsul Huda said on Thursday.

"We're inviting them, but there has been no response so far," he said mentioning that the main opposition had been invited thrice.

He, however, hopes that BNP would join the talks on July 20.

The EC is scheduled to sit for talks with the ruling Awami League and BNP on July 19 and 20 respectively.

His remarks came during talks with Bangladesh Kalyan Party (BKP) when its chairman Maj Gen (retd) Syed Muhammad Ibrahim requested for seeking BNP's opinion with a view to resolving the country's present political instability.

"It's possible to get over the crisis of confidence among the political parties if the Election Commission wants and gets active," Ibrahim said.

In response, the CEC said, "We're trying, but can't do anything more. We hope they'd come up."

Earlier in the morning, the EC exchanged views with Bangladesher Biplobi Workers Party.

The EC sat with the two parties as part of its ongoing dialogue with the 38 registered parties on key issues like the use of Electronic Voting Machines (EVM), demarcation laws and appointment of election commissioners.

The commission opened the dialogue on June 7.

Huda at its meeting with the BKP said all the disputes were resolved through talks during the World War I and World War II.

Referring to the standoff between King Henri and the Pope, the CEC said: "The empire was at a stake and public sufferings were severe. No-one was ready to sit for talks in France and Rome. Later, the dispute was resolved through dialogue in a neutral place, Kennesaw."

Despite being independent, the EC has to perform its work under a complex 'bureaucracy'.

He hoped that the court should help the EC hold a free, fair and neutral election.

EVM FOR LOCAL POLLS FIRST

The BKP chairman said the initiative to use EVM in the elections was praise-worthy, but "adequate public awareness is essential" for its use.

The EVM can be introduced in general elections only after trying it out for acceptability and security in local polls. "We're in favour of its use in the 11th parliament elections," Ibrahim added.

The other party, too, advocated for using EVM in local polls experimentally, citing that the prevailing confusion and mistrust needed to be removed first.

The parties, however, agreed with the other issues.

Commissioners Muhammad Sohul Hussain and M Shakhawat Hossain, EC secretary Mohammad Sadik, Lutful Kabir, director of the Institute of Information and Communication Technology (IICT) of BUET, and Saifur Rahman, managing director of Bangladesh Machine Tools Factory were also present.

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Obama faces new obstacles in high-stakes debt talks

WASHINGTON, July 10 (bdnews24.com/Reuters) - President Barack Obama will seek "the biggest deal possible" in talks on Sunday aimed at averting a debt default after Republicans shied away from a $4 trillion deficit-reduction deal because it would raise taxes.

Obama and the top U.S. Republican, House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner, are to meet with other congressional leaders at 6 p.m. EDT (2200 GMT) at the White House for high-stakes deliberations with an August 2 deadline looming larger.

Failure to seal a deal by August 2 could mean the first-ever default on the nation's financial obligations, which the White House and private economists warn could push the United States back into recession and trigger global financial chaos.

Boehner, facing stiff opposition from fellow Republicans over the prospects of higher taxes as part of a large-scale $4 trillion budget deal, told the Democratic president on Saturday he would only pursue a smaller, $2 trillion package.

The move threatened to throw Sunday's meeting into disarray. It followed Democratic complaints to Obama -- whose 2012 re-election prospects are tightly linked to U.S. economic health -- that he should not agree to any reforms of popular entitlement programs that would lead to benefit cuts.

Calling it a "grave moment for the country," Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner told NBC's "Meet the Press" that Obama and the Democrats would try to get the "biggest deal possible" and that failure to act could lead to catastrophic damage to the fragile U.S. economy.

"It's going to require both sides to compromise. The president's bringing both sides together again at the White House this evening to try to figure out how to move forward," he said.

White House chief of staff William Daley told ABC's "This Week With Christiane Amanpour" that "there's no question in my mind" that a default will be avoided. "I'm confident of that."

Daley said the White House believed a deal of around $4 trillion was needed to "send a statement to the world that the U.S. has gotten hold of their ... fiscal problems."

Aides to Obama and Boehner had been working on a far-reaching package of spending cuts and new revenue that would have reduced deficits by $4 trillion over 10 years and cleared the way for lifting the $14.3 trillion cap on the government's borrowing capacity.

DAMPENED HOPES

But Boehner's move dampened hopes of any immediate compromise and raised doubts about the chances that Sunday's talks would start moving the budget debate toward an end-game.

"Despite good-faith efforts to find common ground, the White House will not pursue a bigger debt reduction agreement without tax hikes," Boehner, the top Republican in Congress, said in a statement. "I believe the best approach may be to focus on producing a smaller measure."

Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, appearing on "Fox News Sunday," said, "Nobody's talking about not raising the debt ceiling," and said he was "for the biggest deal possible too. It's just that we're not going to raise taxes in the middle of this horrible economic situation."

McConnell said he believed the sweeping $4 trillion package was off the table and suggested Republicans have an alternative idea to avoid a default up their sleeves.

Asked if there was a contingency plan to avoid a default, McConnell said with a smile: "There's always a contingency plan."

Conservatives believe deep spending cuts are needed to get the budget under control and are urging congressional Republicans not to bow to pressure for tax increases on the wealthy from Democrats, who want to shield popular domestic programs from huge cuts.

"This debt ceiling debate is the perfect time to do what must be done. We must cut," said former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, the Republican vice presidential nominee in 2008.

Democratic Representative Chris Van Hollen, on CNN's "State of the Union," accused Republicans of taking an uncompromising stance -- "essentially providing a form of extortion, 'if you don't agree to deficit reduction the way we want it.'"

Republicans -- under pressure from Tea Party conservatives -- reject any increased taxes and want curbs on popular benefit programs such as Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security.

Republican Senator Jim DeMint, a Tea Party favorite, told Fox he believed Geithner was "playing Chicken Little here" with the default deadline. "The fact is, we will pay our debts if it's the last dollar we have."

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CARETAKER TALKS Nazmul Huda prods BNP to go ahead

Dhaka, June 22 (bdnews24.com) ? The BNP must respond to the government's repeated calls to settle the caretaker government issue through discussion, says Nazmul Huda.

"The BNP must join the discussion, but on the condition that it won't take part in the next election if the discussion fails," Huda, who only recently got back his membership of the party, said in a press statement issued on Wednesday.

He suggested that BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia and Awami League president and prime minister Sheikh Hasina should take part in a direct discussion.

After the cabinet cleared the proposals by the special committee on constitution amendment, the largest opposition party alleged that the government had closed all doors for talks on the issue.

It also threatened to stage tougher demonstration protesting the government move to amend the constitution.

Former communications minister Huda said an opportunity to make the election system free and fair was thrown up when the Supreme Court ordered to repeal the caretaker government system.

"The BNP should grab the chance," he added.

According to him, a BNP leader's remark that 'all the doors for talks have been closed' could close the doors on the future itself.

"BNP should not own up such a remark," Huda added.

The former standing committee member of the party also said, "I am sorry that I have no opportunity but to express my own idea alongside the BNP policymakers in this way."

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Indo-Pak peace talks start Thursday

Islamabad, June 22 (bdnews24.com/Reuters) ? India and Pakistan begin peace talks on Thursday, an important safety valve between two nuclear-armed countries which the United States hopes will help stabilise the region as it prepares to withdraw troops from Afghanistan.

But after many false starts, hopes were being kept deliberately low for the two days of talks between Indian Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao and her Pakistani counterpart, Salman Bashir.

"We have realistic expectations," an Indian government source said. "We should not expect quick and dramatic resolutions."

With the India-Pakistan rivalry often spilling into Afghanistan, the United States and its allies are hoping the peace process will gather pace in tandem with plans to gradually withdraw western troops ahead of a 2014 deadline.

President Barack Obama is due to announce the first of a phased withdrawal of U.S. troops later on Wednesday.

During the talks, the foreign secretaries will discuss Kashmir, the disputed territory which has bitterly divided India and Pakistan since independence in 1947.

Pakistan and India, which have fought three full-scale wars since independence, two over Kashmir, resumed a formal peace process in February, broken off after the November 2008 attack on Mumbai by Pakistan-based militants which killed 166 people.

Progress has been incremental in talks which have included meetings between defence, interior and trade secretaries and a visit by Pakistan Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani to India to watch an India-Pakistan cricket match with his counterpart Manmohan Singh.

A CALL FOR PATIENCE

"Patience is something that is called for. We will have to be realistic, we will have to be positive in our approach," Indian Foreign Minister S.M. Krishna told reporters in New Delhi this week.

He said the talks would hopefully "narrow the trust deficit and pave the way for normalisation" of relations.

Any sudden crisis between the two - for example if another Mumbai-style attack triggered a military confrontation - could further destabilise Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Given the importance of India's growing economy, it would also send shock waves around fragile markets worldwide.

In the Kashmir Valley, at the heart of a separatist revolt against Indian rule since 1989, and more recently scene of massive street protests which erupted in the past three summers, few held much hope of progress. "There is huge cynicism in Kashmir about the talks. People here have been witness to them for so many decades and never have they produced anything tangible, "said local political analyst Riyaz Ahmad. "These talks in the past have all ended in bitter disappointment," said Mohammad Saqlain, a 47-year-old school teacher.

"I don't see any hope. Kashmir may bleed more."

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BNP rebuffs EC talks invite

Dhaka, June 21 (bdnews24.com)?Opposition BNP has snubbed the Election Commission's invite to join the ongoing talks, terming electoral body 'disputed'.

In a letter to the EC on Tuesday, the party said, "We think it will be appropriate if the disputed commission does not initiate reforms of laws and rules and rather leave the job to the next commission."

The letter signed by acting secretary-general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir was dated June 13.

Tenure of the current commission expires on February next year.

The electoral commission already has held talks with registered political parties to exchange opinions on further amendment of the election laws, and issues like state funding for poll expenditure, e-voting introduction, formulation of demarcation rules and procedure of appointment of the election commissioners.

Commissioner M Sakhawat Hossain said they would respond to the BNP letter later.

"We have a schedule for the party [BNP] until [Wednesday]," he told bdnews24.com.

The BNP did not join the dialogue with the EC, scheduled for June 13. The commission later invited the party again to the talks on any day between June 19 and Wednesday.

However, party chairperson Khaleda Zia at a press conference on June 16 rejected the call alleging that the current EC was not impartial.

The chief election commissioner on Monday said it would be sad if BNP does not join the dialogue.

"BNP's decision [not to join the dialogue] is sad. The Election Commission has nothing to do if anyone doesn't come," A T M Shamsul Huda told reporters.

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Caretaker talks anywhere, anytime: AL

Dhaka, June 17 (bdnews24.com) ? The Awami League general secretary has said his party is ready to discuss the caretaker issue with the opposition BNP anytime, anywhere ? in or outside parliament.

Syed Ashraful Islam on Friday told a press briefing that his party did not want to take decisions unilaterally. "We'll wait until the end."

"We're hopeful that [BNP chairperson] Khaleda Zia will discuss the issue. We're ready to discuss it anywhere in or outside parliament," he said.

The press briefing was held at the Dhanmondi office of the party president, prime minister Sheikh Hasina.

"Letter will be issued formally, if they want. The letter can be sent within [Saturday], if necessary," he added.

Syed Ashraf, however, said the next general election would be held after amending the constitution in line with the court verdict if BNP did not join discussion.

"Khaleda Zia will not be able to oppose then. It'll be a democratic process," he said.

This is a major shift in the party's position that had so far maintained that opposition must come back to parliament to talk the contentious issue.

The Awami League president, prime minister Sheikh Hasina, recently asked the BNP to join parliament and place an 'alternative formula'.

The opposition maintain that they would not join the next general elections without a caretaker government in place.

Khaleda at a press conference on Thursday rejected the proposal for discussion.

She said: "She [Hasina] keeps saying over and over something that is not there in the verdict. The verdict says 'the Constitution (13th Amendment) Act. 1996 (Act 1 of 1996) is prospectively declared void and ultra vires the constitution'. Which means the system is not void yet.

"The verdict will be effective only after holding of the next two elections under the caretaker system. This is, in fact, mentioned in the latter part of the verdict," she added.

If the caretaker provision is retained, the former prime minister said, she was willing to join such discussions either 'inside or outside parliament'.

The Supreme Court on May 10 repealed the 13th Amendment to the constitution that introduced the caretaker government, but said the next two general elections could be held under unelected rulers.

The special parliamentary committee on charter review has proposed to cancel the system.

Syed Ashraf's unconditional offer came a day before a belligerent BNP was scheduled to announce a new course of campaign including possibly another round of nationwide shutdown.

BNP, along with its key ally Jamaat-e-Islami staged two general strikes demanding that the system be retained.

Only last week, BNP enforced a 36-hour lockdown throughout Bangladesh, the first such harsh antigovernment campaign since the Awami League returned to power two and a half years ago.

'MISINTERPRETATION BY KHALEDA'

Syed Ashraf termed Khaleda's speech 'self-contradictory, false and the worst example of political opportunism'.

Khaleda had said Hasina was puzzled with the court verdict. She said there might be discussion with the government only if the declaration to retain the caretaker government system came.

"Not only this, she also tried to misinterpret Supreme Court verdict which amounts to contempt of court," he said.

The local government minister added, "Khaleda Zia in her speech said the caretaker government system was not declared scrapped or illegal in the Appellate Division verdict.

"Not following the main verdict, she has spoken of its observations. She misinterpreted the observation as the main verdict," he added.

Syed Ashraf went on: "Basically, it was said in the observation that the next two general elections may be held under caretaker governments. The words 'may be held' were clearly mentioned in the observation."

"She wants to turn 'may be' into 'must' forcefully. She wouldn't have made this mistake if she had the least knowledge of English."

The scathing remark aside, Syed Ashraf said the opposition chief had made some positive remarks at the press briefing.

"Khaleda Zia said there might be discussion with the government on who will be the next caretaker government chief, and having an impartial Election Commission and administration," he said.

"She will join discussion on caretaker government issue, too. With my political experience, I can say that she will join the discussion finally."

"She has no way other than discussion," Syed Ashraf said. "In the last parliamentary elections, she said 'no' to every issue, including transparent ballot box and voter list with photos. But finally she said 'yes' to all and joined the elections."

About the apex court observation that if parliament wants, the next two general elections could be held under caretaker governments, Ashraf said, "We're trying to take a decision about all the issues through discussion with the opposition because of this [the observation]."

SHE'LL AGREE WHEN SHE UNDERSTANDS

The AL general secretary said BNP harmed people by calling hartal instead of joining discussion. "The sooner the discussion is held, the better it is for the nation."

About BNP's stance against -electronic voting, he said, "Khaleda Zia said 'no' to electronic voting without understanding anything. She will say 'yes' when she understands."

The prime minister has opined in favour of using electronic voting machines (EVMs) in the next general elections.

The Election Commission trialled EVMs during local government elections in some centres.

The EVM issue is one of the five that are being discussed in the on-going dialogues between the commission and the registered political parties.

Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) said it would accept voting with EVM if finger prints were included. Abdul Kader Siddiqui-led Krishak Sramik Janata League expressed reservations about electronic voting.

Hussein Muhammad Ershad's Jatiya Party said e-voting should not be launched now while Anwar Hossain Manju-led Jatiya Party (JP) backed the prime minister.

Rashed Khan Menon-led Workers Party opined in favour of launching e-voting in some centres alongside voting in conventional system.

Awami League and BNP are yet to join the dialogues.

BARBED-WIRE FENCING

Syed Ashraf denied BNP's claim that they were not given chance to speak in parliament. "Stop lying and join the house by getting to the real world."

He also ruled out another allegation of the opposition that BNP leaders and activists were being barred to enter the party's headquarters at Naya Paltan.

"The Awami League office at Bangabandhu Avenue was surrounded with barbed-wire fences during BNP's tenure," he said.

The Awami League general secretary said, "Hawa Bhaban was the centre of every corruption and militancy during BNP's tenure. The new building at Gulshan will become a new Hawa Bhaban if the party takes power again."

"People won't believe that Khaleda, with Jamaat-e-Islami on one side and [Fazlul Haque] Amini on the other, will establish democracy," he said.

He claimed no BNP leader had been assaulted by the government in past two and a half years.

Awami League joint general secretary Mahbub-ul-Alam Hanif and organising secretary Ahmad Hossain were present at the press briefing.

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Muhith pooh-poohs gas export talks

Dhaka, June 18 (bdnews24.com) ? Finance minister A M A Muhith has termed the gas export talks following the deal with a US company 'utterly nonsense'.

"We feel very happy that we could sign agreement with ConocoPhillips for the Bay," Muhith said on Saturday at a monthly luncheon of the Foreign Investors Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FICCI) at the city's Sonargaon Hotel.

"We have maritime border disputes with Myanmar and India, but we need to lift gas from the sea. ConocoPhillips will do the job," he said.

"They will be bound to sell us the oil-gas extracted from the sea," the finance minister said, "So, the idea that gas will be exported is utterly nonsense," he said.

"Calling hartal over the deal is also nonsense," he added.

A production-sharing contract (PSC) deal was signed between the government and ConocoPhillips on Thursday, allowing the company start lifting gas from two blocks in the Bay of Bengal.

The National Committee on Protection of Oil, Gas and Mineral Resources, Power and Ports has called a half-day hartal in Dhaka for July 3, demanding cancellation of the deal.

BLACK MONEY

In reply to a businessman's question whether people would be discouraged to pay taxes if they are given the chance to whiten black money, Muhith said, "I am against whitening black money."

"We've given chance to whiten black money, as it was seen in a study that 48 percent money of the economy is black," he said.

"But the move was not successful?only a little black money was whitened," he added.

The finance minister his budget speech for 2011-12 on June 9 proposed to whiten black money in the next financial year by slapping only 10 percent tax on investment in government treasury.

About the next years' budget proposals, he Muhith said, "The opposition and the media are very much concerned about the proposed budget, saying it is with a large deficit, high ambition and high growth rate."

"The Tk 1.6-trillion budget is not highly ambitious as our economy and market are expanding," he said.

"A deficit of five percent is natural. The budgets in past few years also had similar deficits," he added.

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