Ganabhaban invitation for 'get-together', not talks for fresh polls

Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader on Sunday said prime minister Sheikh Hasina will hold fresh dialogues with the political parties that joined talks at Ganabhaban before the 30 December election.

Party insiders, however, said that there is a lean chance of holding such a dialogue again. Rather, it will be a kind of post-election 'get-together' where the prime minister may thank the parties for taking part in the election.

"The prime minister had talks with 75 political parties, including those in Jatiya Oikya Front and the Jukta Front, before the 11th parliamentary elections. At a joint meeting of our advisory council and the central working committee yesterday (Saturday), she said she’ll again invite those who joined the talks earlier," said Quader, also the road transport and bridges minister.

He, however, did not specify when the PM will invite the political parties.

He also said the prime minister will exchange views with the political parties over various issues and entertain the leaders.

On Saturday, Quader turned down the call for talks and termed it an absurd demand by Jatiya Oikya Front as no one raised questions or debate over the 30 December election.

Several leaders who attended the ruling party's joint meeting told Prothom Alo that prime minister did not use the word 'dialogue'. Instead, she meant a programme where the leaders who joined talks before the election will be entertained.

The information minister and Awami League’s publicity secretary Hasan Mahmud told Prothom Alo, “Prime minister Sheikh Hasina said in the meeting that those who participated in the dialogue before the election will be invited for a ‘get together’.”

As many as 39 registered parties took part in this election. AL is considering this as a successful election.

A senior AL leader told Prothom Alo that, the prime minister wanted the eight winning members of Oikya Front to join parliament.

Another central leader of AL said, there have been discussions among BNP and Oikya Front in favour of joining parliament. They were expecting an honourable approach from the ruling AL.

Also the Oikya Front would face criticism if they refused the invitation from the PM, he added.

General secretary of Gano Forum, Mostafa Mohsin Montu said, “The decision will be made after discussions once we receive the formal invitation.”

The BNP’s standing committee member Nazrul Islam Khan, on the other hand, said, “After receiving formal invitation, it will be discussed inside the party and alliance forums.”

Before the announcement of 11th parliamentary election, political parties including Oikya Front leaders sat with the PM at the Ganabhaban.