Dhaka: A 16-member Jatiya Oikyafront delegation, led by Dr Kamal Hossain, will join the talks with Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at Ganobhaban on Thursday evening.

Senior Oikyafront leaders took the decision at a meeting at Dr Kamal Hossain’s Motijheel chamber on Tuesday evening, JSD president ASM Abdur Rob told reporters after the meeting.

‘We’ve warmly accepted the Prime Minister’s invitation and we’ll go to Ganobhaban at 7pm on Thursday. Our leader Dr Kamal Hossain and our 15 other leaders will go there,’ he said.

The meeting also finalised the names of the delegation members, reports the UNB.

Later, a three-member Oikyafront delegation—Gono Forum’s Jaglul Haider and Mostak Ahmed and Nagorik Oikya’s Mominul Islam—carried the list of the delegation members to Awami League President’s Dhanmondi office around 8:30pm.

Awami League organising secretary Abdur Rahman received the list, Mostak Ahmed told UNB.

The delegation members are Dr Kamal Hossain, BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, standing committee members Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Moudud Ahmed, Jamiruddin Sircar, Mirza Abbas, JSD president ASM Abdur Rob, vice president Tania Rob, general secretary Abdul Malek Ratan, Nagorik Oikya’s Mahmudur Rahman Manna and SM Akarm, Gono Forum general secretary Mostafa Mohsin Montu, executive president Subrata Chowdhury, Jatiya Oiky Prokriya’s Sultan Mohammad Mansur, ABM Mostafa Amin and Gonoshasthya Kendra founder Dr Zafrull Chowdhury.

Abur Rob said the nation hopes that the dialogue will help resolve the political problem.

He said they will discuss Oikyafront’s seven-point demand and all other issues.

Replying to a question, the JSD president said the representatives of BNP, JSD, Jatiya Oikya Prokriya, Nagorik Oikya and Gono Forum will be there in the 16-member delegation.

Asked whether BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir will be there in the 16-member delegation, he said, ‘Surely, he’ll join the talks. It’s not possible to hold the dialogue without him (Fakhrul).’

Rob said he has been made the spokesman of the Oikyafront.

BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alam, standing committee members Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Moudud Ahmed JSD president ASM Abdur Rob, vice president Tania Rob, general secretary Abdul Malek Ratan, Gono Forum general secretary Mostafa Mohsin Montu, executive president Subrata Chowdhury, Nagorik Oikya’s Mahmudur Rahman Manna, Jahedur Rahman, Jatiya Oiky Prokriya’s Sultan Mohammad Mansur, ABM Mostafa Amin and Gonoshasthya Kendra founder Dr Zafrullah attended the meeting with Dr Kamal in the chair.

On Sunday, Dr Kamal Hossain, in favour of Jatiya Oikyafront, sent a letter to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina seeking dialogue over the national election.

In response to it, Sheikh Hasina sent a letter to Dr Kamal on Tuesday morning and invited Oikyafront leaders to join the dialogue at 7pm on Thursday at Ganobhaban.

AL office secretary Abdus Sobhan Golap carried the letter to Dr Kamal Hossain’s Bailey Road residence around 7:45am.

In the letter, the Prime Minister said, ‘Take Salam and greetings. Thank you for your letter dated October 28, 2018. My door is always open for discussion on all constitutional issues for the continuation of the democratic trend earned through immense struggles and sacrifices. So, I invite you (Oikyafront leaders) to Ganobhaban at 7pm on November 1 next as you sought time for talks.’

Earlier on Monday, Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader at a press conference said Sheikh Hasina agreed to sit in dialogue with Jatiya Oikyafront leaders over the next general election.

Later at night, he phoned Gono Forum general secretary Mostafa Mohsin Montu seeking the list of Oikyafront delegation for the dialogue.

On October 13, BNP together with Dr Kama Hossain-led Jatiya Oikya Prokriya, JSD and Nagorik Oikya launched the Jatiy Oikyafront to press for their seven-point demand.

The Oikyafront’s seven-point demand includes installation of a neutral interim government, dissolution of parliament, reconstitution the Election Commission, release of all the political prisoners, deployment of army and cancellation of the move to use Electronic Voting Machines (EVMS) for holding the next polls in fair and acceptable manner.