Leaders of the BNP are not sure whether foreign guests could attend the party national council on March 19 at such short notice. The party received permission for the venue two days ago and has just started sending out invitations, according to BNP sources.   The international sub-committee has begun inviting foreign leaders through embassies, high commissions and party leaders abroad. But the leaders are uncertain whether the guests would be able to obtain their visas within such a short time, said the sources.
The BNP leaders put the blame on the government for creating such a situation.
The party applied for three venues about three weeks ago and got the nod to hold the national council at the Institute of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB) just two days ago.
Shafik Rehman, convenor of the international affairs sub-committee, told The Independent that they have started sending out invitations to foreign leaders to attend the council. He, however, regretted that the delay in getting permission for the venue has put them in trouble.
“We have got the permission for the venue just two days ago. There are holidays also in between. We are still trying to send out invitation letters to foreign guests using different mediums,” he added.
Rehman, who is also a senior journalist, said permission should have been given for Suhrawardy Udyan so that a larger crowd could have taken part in the council.
The BNP chairperson’s adviser, Dr Osman Faruk, said they are trying their best to send out invitation letters to leaders of ruling and opposition parties in different countries to join the council.
“The progress in communicating and sending letters to foreign leaders is good. But we cannot say as to who will be able to attend the council at such short notice,” he said.  
 The BNP international affairs secretary, Dr Asaduzzaman Ripon, said it would be difficult for the foreign guests to attend the council after completing all official formalities. He called it a government conspiracy to restrict
participation of foreign guests in the council.    
 Preferring anonymity, a sub-committee member said they are sending letters to leaders of ruling and opposition parties in SAARC countries. Letters will also be sent to leaders of countries considered crucial for the country’s bilateral ties, he added.
Another member, Shama Obaed, said they would send letters to all countries, including those in South Asia. She said they are facing problems in sending out the invitation letters since they got the venue permission at the last moment.
 Expressing concern, Shama, who is also a party executive committee member, said the government might dilly-dally in issuing visas for the foreign guests. She said they would receive messages from the foreign guests from next week.
 Sources said leaders of China, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia and Myanmar are being invited to join the party council. Besides, leaders of two major political parties in different countries including the US, the UK, Germany, France, Canada, Italy, Australia, New Zealand will also be invited.
 The BNP chairperson, Khaleda Zia, will invite the foreign leaders, while the party’s acting secretary general, Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, will invite different ambassadors and high commissioners in Bangladesh, said the sources.
 The BNP has already communicated with British parliamentarian George Galloway, who had attended the last council in 2009. But he expressed his inability to join the council since he is contesting for the mayoral election in the UK, said a party leader.
 Besides inviting foreign guests, the BNP is also inviting three to five party leaders from the 42 countries where there are party organisations, he said.