AL and BNP oppose attempts to formulate a national charter; Bangladesh, Myanmar direct road link to start next year
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    • Even as the government was making efforts to convince AL and BNP to participate in the ongoing political talks, these parties on their part also decided to oppose the attempts of the government to formulate a national charter1. While the AL was making preparations to participate in the December elections and start a movement to get its six-point demands accepted (the release of party chief Sheikh Hasina was also part of the demand), the BNP called for intra- and inter-party unity to restore democracy in the country2. Reports also noted that the authorities were making attempts to build a political consensus on a ‘Constitutional Review Commission3.’

    In view of the confusion regarding the participation of the AL and the BNP in the talks with the government, Workers' Party of Bangladesh (WPB) President Rashed Khan Menon on June 3 expressed doubts over the conduct of the December elections4.

    In other developments, reports noted that construction on a direct road link between Bangladesh and Myanmar would begin by the middle of next year. The 25-km long road, connecting Balukhali in Cox’s Bazar with Bawlibazar in the Rakhain State of Myanmar, would facilitate trade between the two countries as well as open up the possibility of a greater road network between Bangladesh and China and the South-East Asian countries, including Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore5.

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