report in Dhaka tribune by Fazlur Rahman Raju
There are reports and rumors of turbulence between BNP and Jamaat, political allies of 17 years, and rifts over the selection of a mayor candidate in Sylhet City Corporation election, scheduled to be held on July 30
Ruling Awami League leaders have said that they will not sit with arch political rival BNP for discussion ahead of the general election, but they will consider the possibility if the BNP cuts ties with Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami.
A presidium member and minister told the Dhaka Tribune that leaving Jamaat is Awami League’s primary condition for BNP to come to a dialogue.
There are reports and rumors of turbulence between BNP and Jamaat, political allies of 17 years, and rifts over the selection of a mayor candidate in Sylhet City Corporation election, scheduled to be held on July 30.
However, Awami League general secretary on Saturday said that unlike the last election, this time the ruling party will not call BNP to the table.
“Awami League has no intention to sit with those who inducted Bangabandhu’s killers and anti-Liberation War forces to power.”
When asked about the possibilities of dialogue with BNP, Awami League presidium member Abdul Matin Khasru declined to comment.
Awami League accuses wreaking havoc across the country with arson attacks and vandalism during the last general election of 2014.
Two presidium members and one joint-general secretary of Awami League told the Dhaka Tribune that the party is not thinking about dialogue with BNP over the election-time government and the upcoming election, but they will obviously think about it if BNP leaves Jamaat.
Before the last election, Awami League leaders had also urged BNP to break ties with Jamaat.
BNP and Jamaat have both floated their own mayoral candidates in the Sylhet city poll, scheduled to be held on July 30.
The BNP- Jamaat alliance was formed in 1999 during the government of Awami League at the time. Later, the alliance turned into 20-party alliance.
https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/politics/2018/07/09/ditching-jamaat-first-condition-for-dialogue
Comments are closed.