Two allies to skip PM’s dinner amid discontent
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Two allies of Bangladesh’s anti-fascism joint movement will skip a dinner hosted by Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman in honor of coalition partners on Monday evening, citing political grievances and dissatisfaction with the government.
The two parties are Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) and Jamiat-e-Ulama-e-Islam Bangladesh. Both have already informed BNP of their decision not to attend the event at the state guest house Jamuna, where a long-awaited meeting between the prime minister and alliance partners is scheduled after the dinner.
Sources said the parties' decision largely stems from frustration over what they see as inadequate recognition by the BNP-led government during its first five months in office.
JSD said it had expected the BNP to leave the Lakshmipur-4 constituency for the party in the 13th parliamentary election as a coalition partner. Instead, the BNP nominated its own candidate, disappointing the party and straining relations between the two allies.
The party also expressed dissatisfaction over what it described as a lack of recognition in the government and said no senior government leader had visited its ailing president, ASM Abdur Rab.
In a letter to the BNP, JSD said it considers issues such as the July Charter, a referendum, and state reforms to be historic commitments to the people rather than ordinary political programs. It further said that joining a separate political meeting with the BNP before a broader national consensus is reached on those issues could create confusion about the party's political position and commitments.
Jamiat-e-Ulama-e-Islam Bangladesh said it decided not to attend because the large gathering would not allow meaningful discussions.
Senior Joint Secretary General Maulana Bahauddin Zakaria said the event would offer little opportunity for exchanging views and would instead involve listening to one-sided remarks. He said the party was more interested in substantive discussions that could benefit the country.
According to Additional Press Secretary to the Prime Minister Atiqur Rahman Ruman, more than 150 leaders from parties allied with the BNP-led anti-fascism movement have been invited to the dinner.
The BNP-led alliance previously comprised 42 political parties under four coalitions, alongside several other parties that jointly campaigned against the former Sheikh Hasina government. Some parties that later joined a Jamaat-e-Islami-led electoral alliance were not invited to Monday's event.
