Dhaka, Sep 16 (Xinhua) Bangladesh Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia has offered to talk to the main opposition Awami League (AL) on electoral reforms to resolve the political deadlock in the country.
The opposition, however, said after the offer was made Friday that they would discuss the sudden offer for dialogue.
Zia had in the last few days refused to agree to talks on electoral reforms, saying the upcoming general elections will be held according to the existing constitution.
"If the Awami League boycotts the elections there are other parties in the country who will participate," the prime minister had said.
AL President Sheikh Hasina, who is leading the 14-party opposition alliance, said her alliance will not take part in the elections without the reforms. She said they will not even allow the government to hold elections with only Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) men in the caretaker government and the Election Commission.
A group of western diplomats have asked the BNP and the AL leaders to resolve the current political dispute through negotiations.
The donor countries are also putting pressures on the BNP leaders to go for the electoral reforms to make the next government credible.
Meanwhile, the AL said that after the Sep 18 protest rally here, it will paralyse the government by calling for an indefinite general strike.
In Bangladesh, non-partisan caretaker government conducts the general elections under the constitution and the next elections are due in January.