Bangladesh PM rules out talks with opposition party chief

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Saturday ruled out chances of a dialogue with BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia whose party has been enforcing a crippling blockade across the country.

Hasina blamed her bitter political rival Khaleda for the deaths during the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)-led alliance's agitations, bdnews24.com reported.

She dubbed the BNP chief a "murderer" and "leader of the militants" while speaking at an event in Dhaka on Saturday.

"What is there to talk about with her?" the prime minister asked.

Hasina's comment came a day after Khaleda renewed her demand for a dialogue over a snap election under a "neutral body".

She dubbed Khaleda's statement "full of lies" and blamed her for boycotting the last general elections.

Violence since January 5 this year has claimed 121 lives, mostly in arson, with over a thousand people suffering burn injuries since then. Hundreds of vehicles have been damaged and torched.

Hasina hoped the people's sufferings would end soon.

She questioned the effectiveness of the alliance's blockades and shutdowns which "did not have public support".

--INdo-Asian News Service

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