Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said the government wants to hold a free, fair and neutral election so that people can choose their leadership.
The Prime Minister came up with the statement in her introductory speech at a dialogue between the Awami League-led 14-praty alliance and Dr AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury-led Jukta Front on Friday.
The talks began at 7:45pm at Prime Minister's official residence Ganabhaban, reports UNB.
Sheikh Hasina is leading a 14-party delegation at the dialogue while Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh (BDB) president and Jukta Front chairman Dr AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury a 21-member team.
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 said.
Sheikh Hasina 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 Ganobhaban, Sheikh Hasina said this is the place of common people.
The other Jukta Front delegation members are BDB secretary general Maj (retd) 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 said.
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 Dr 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 Ganobhaban as he sent a letter to her seeking talks over the next polls.