Bangladesh's two main political parties says their leaders, the arch-rivals and former prime ministers Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia, may be willing to hold face-to-face talks as crucial elections approach.
The acting head of Ms. Hasina's Awami League party, Syed Ashraful Islam said today (Wednesday) that Ms. Hasina is willing to meet with Ms. Zia if there is a formal invitation and a specific agenda for the talks.
Senior officials from Ms. Zia's Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) say she is open to talks as well, without conditions.The two women have barely spoken to each other during an intense political and personal rivalry that has lasted some 17 years.
The prime minister's job alternated between them until a military-backed interim government took control of the country last year.Elections scheduled for next month are supposed to return the country to civilian rule.