Insiders rue as BNP skips AL council

The BNP finally decided not to attend the national council of the Awami League (AL), sparking a sense of frustration and criticism among the party's rank and file and think-tanks. Members of think-tanks and senior leaders observed that the BNP should have attended the AL council as a political gesture, which, they said, is needed for democracy.
Some leaders, however, argued that the party has done the right thing. They said the ruling party had set a precedent by not attending the BNP's March 19 council.
Senior leaders also criticised the dilemma of the BNP leadership to take a decision on attending the AL council, where party chairperson Khaleda Zia and secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir were invited.
When contacted, at least four standing committee members expressed their ignorance about the party's decision to stay away from the AL council.
Former vice-chancellor of Dhaka University, Prof Dr Emajuddin Ahmed, said he does not find any reason for not attending such an organised and formal programme.
“They (BNP) should attend the event. If there are no good relations between the political parties, how will foreigners see it?" he asked.
He also criticised the AL for not joining the BNP’s March 19 council.
Ahmed, who is also convenor of Adarsha Dhaka Andolon, a pro-BNP civil society platform, said it should not be treated as a personal matter, but should be considered as a collective matter.   
“Political leaders should give positive response to formal invitation for the sake of democracy and walk together,” he said.
The former DU teacher further said it is very

important in political culture to maintain mutual understanding and good relations with each other. Politics cannot exist without confidence, reliance and respect for each other, he said.
BNP standing committee member, Lt. Gen. (retd) Mahbubur Rahman, said he does not know about the party decision, but he thinks it is good to attend such events, which creates respect for others.
“It is a simple thing that if someone is invited to join a social programme, he/she will attend it at least to maintain social norms,” he said.
The former army chief, however, mentioned that the AL had also not come to the BNP council.
“I will only be saying that if you are a bad element, why will I not be the best one,” he added.
Standing committee members Nazrul Islam Khan and Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury also expressed their ignorance about the party decision. “I do not know anything as I did not go to the party office on Thursday,” said Khan.
Chowdhury said he does not want to make any comment as he did not go to the party office for two-three days and does not know anything.
Joint secretary Mujibur Rahman Sarwar said it is the party’s decision. “We should realise the culture of the country. Indeed, it depends on the government and its attitude before sending a delegation,” he said.
He mentioned that the ruling party did not turn up at the BNP’s council and they were not interested in sitting across the table to resolve the current political impasse.
Sarwar termed it an “ego problem” of the two parties, and said the government should create a situation so that both parties can join such events in future. He alleged that at present there is no such environment and the government should come forward to create it.
Assistant organising secretary, Abdus Salam Azad, said the ruling party has created such a situation that one cannot go to the programme of the other. “It is the Awami League that blocked the path of joining its council by not joining ours. Now it is the ruling party’s job to create the path,” he observed.
Azad, also acting president of the Juba Dal, further said that if the BNP had joined the AL council, it would have been similar to accepting all misdeeds of the AL-led government. “We hope the ruling party corrects its mistakes and paves the way for joining its events,” he added.
After receiving invitation letters on Thursday, the party’s secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir told reporters that they would take a decision at the party forum. But he could not announce the decision till the beginning of the council at 10:05am.
The BNP secretary general, however, told The Independent that he was unwell and does not know about the party decision on joining the AL council.
Moazzem Hossain Alal, who on Friday gave a positive note on joining the AL council, did not receive phone calls despite repeated attempts.
Veteran freedom fighter, Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury, said Khaleda has been defeated in the battle of intelligence when she refrained from attending the AL council. “The BNP is committing mistakes one after another. This time it made a major mistake. They have lost a big opportunity. Those who took the decision not to attend the AL council have taken a wrong decision,” he said. Had the BNP joined the council, it would have been able to speak about its grievances and put forward its views, he added.
Chowdhury, also a known well-wisher of the BNP, said people do not expect a childish decision from the party like the viewpoint that “we will not go because they did not come”. He said it is also the failure of standing committee members for not having discussed the matter with party chairperson Khaleda Zia.

 

Insiders rue as BNP skips AL council

The BNP finally decided not to attend the national council of the Awami League (AL), sparking a sense of frustration and criticism among the partys rank and file and think-tanks. Members of think-tanks and senior leaders observed that the BNP should have attended the AL council as a political gesture, which, they said, is needed for democracy. Some leaders, however, argued that the party has done the right thing. They said the ruling party had set a precedent by not attending the BNPs March 19 council. Senior leaders also criticised the dilemma of the BNP leadership to take a decision on attending the AL council, where party chairperson Khaleda Zia and secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir were invited. When contacted, at least four standing committee members expressed their ignorance about the partys decision to stay away from the AL council. Former vice-chancellor of Dhaka University, Prof Dr Emajuddin Ahmed, said he does not find any reason for not attending such an organised and formal programme. They (BNP) should attend the event. If there are no good relations between the political parties, how will foreigners see it? he asked. He also criticised the AL for not joining the BNPs March 19 council. Ahmed, who is also convenor of Adarsha Dhaka Andolon, a pro-BNP civil society platform, said it should not be treated as a personal matter, but should be considered as a collective matter. Political leaders should give positive response to formal invitation for the sake of democracy and walk together, he said. The former DU teacher further said it is very important in political culture to maintain mutual understanding and good relations with each other. Politics cannot exist without confidence, reliance and respect for each other, he said. BNP standing committee member, Lt. Gen. (retd) Mahbubur Rahman, said he does not know about the party decision, but he thinks it is good to attend such events, which creates respect for others. It is a simple thing that if someone is invited to join a social programme, he/she will attend it at least to maintain social norms, he said. The former army chief, however, mentioned that the AL had also not come to the BNP council. I will only be saying that if you are a bad element, why will I not be the best one, he added. Standing committee members Nazrul Islam Khan and Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury also expressed their ignorance about the party decision. I do not know anything as I did not go to the party office on Thursday, said Khan. Chowdhury said he does not want to make any comment as he did not go to the party office for two-three days and does not know anything. Joint secretary Mujibur Rahman Sarwar said it is the partys decision. We should realise the culture of the country. Indeed, it depends on the government and its attitude before sending a delegation, he said. He mentioned that the ruling party did not turn up at the BNPs council and they were not interested in sitting across the table to resolve the current political impasse. Sarwar termed it an ego problem of the two parties, and said the government should create a situation so that both parties can join such events in future. He alleged that at present there is no such environment and the government should come forward to create it. Assistant organising secretary, Abdus Salam Azad, said the ruling party has created such a situation that one cannot go to the programme of the other. It is the Awami League that blocked the path of joining its council by not joining ours. Now it is the ruling partys job to create the path, he observed. Azad, also acting president of the Juba Dal, further said that if the BNP had joined the AL council, it would have been similar to accepting all misdeeds of the AL-led government. We hope the ruling party corrects its mistakes and paves the way for joining its events, he added. After receiving invitation letters on Thursday, the partys secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir told reporters that they would take a decision at the party forum. But he could not announce the decision till the beginning of the council at 10:05am. The BNP secretary general, however, told The Independent that he was unwell and does not know about the party decision on joining the AL council. Moazzem Hossain Alal, who on Friday gave a positive note on joining the AL council, did not receive phone calls despite repeated attempts. Veteran freedom fighter, Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury, said Khaleda has been defeated in the battle of intelligence when she refrained from attending the AL council. The BNP is committing mistakes one after another. This time it made a major mistake. They have lost a big opportunity. Those who took the decision not to attend the AL council have taken a wrong decision, he said. Had the BNP joined the council, it would have been able to speak about its grievances and put forward its views, he added. Chowdhury, also a known well-wisher of the BNP, said people do not expect a childish decision from the party like the viewpoint that we will not go because they did not come. He said it is also the failure of standing committee members for not having discussed the matter with party chairperson Khaleda Zia.