Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has suspended her news conference scheduled for Thursday on the outcome of crucial talks with political groups ahead of the general election.
Hasina’s Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim confirmed the suspension of the conference to bdnews24.com on Wednesday night.
He cited ‘unavoidable’ reasons behind the decision but did not elaborate.
Earlier in the day, the ruling Awami League chief sat with the Dr Kamal Hossain-led Jatiya Oikya Front, of which the BNP is a part, at the Ganabhaban.
The alliance formed ahead of the election announced it would continue its movement for a seven-point charter of demand after the talks with Hasina yielded ‘no solution’.
They sat for the second time in a week to iron out their political differences over issues like the release of BNP chief Khaleda Zia from jail before the polls and a nonpartisan election-time government.
But both camps remained miles apart on the demands made by the alliance.
Later, BNP leaders said the Oikya Front cancelled its Rajshahi-bound march scheduled for Thursday taking into account the prime minister’s news conference on the talks and Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda’s address to the nation.
The CEC will announce the election schedule in the address at 7:00pm on Thursday despite the Oikya Front’s call for its deferment.
The BNP leaders said the Oikya Front decided to wait and watch Hasina and Huda’s speeches before deciding on the next course of action, reports bdnews24.com.
