The BNP has moved to ease discontent among parties that joined its simultaneous movement against the ousted Awami League government, amid complaints over seat sharing, unfulfilled promises and a lack of consultation since it came to power.
Five months after forming the government, BNP Chairman and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will meet leaders of allied parties and host them for dinner tonight at the State Guest House Jamuna.
This will be Tarique’s first meeting with the allies since the government took office. Leaders of both registered and unregistered parties that joined the movement have been invited.
Party sources said the meeting may focus on seat-sharing grievances, coordination and ways to advance the goals of the anti-Awami League movement. The allies are also expected to raise concerns over not being adequately valued or consulted on key political issues.
Several allies see the meeting as a test of whether the BNP will rebuild coordination or continue what they describe as a “go-it-alone” approach.
They are also expected to discuss their role at different levels of government and how their party members will be evaluated ahead of the local government elections.
The BNP left 15 of the 300 parliamentary seats for allied leaders in the last general election.
Five parties contested eight seats under their own symbols. Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Bangladesh received four seats, while Ganosamhati Andolan, the Biplobi Workers Party, Bangladesh Jatiya Party-BJP, and Gono Odhikar Parishad received one each. Three allied candidates were elected.
Saiful Haque, general secretary of Biplobi Workers Party, said, “We are not going there to bargain for anything. If I have the opportunity to speak, I will discuss the government’s political performance and where it is falling behind.
“They have left the whole political field to the opposition. Apart from running the government, the BNP has little visible political presence. I will also raise the law and order situation and try to understand how the prime minister views the allies.”
He added that despite facing various challenges over the past five months, the government had not sought advice from those who took part in the joint movement.
“I have noticed overconfidence. They may think they can solve all problems alone, which is very dangerous. No major political party in Bangladesh should follow a go-it-alone policy,” he said.
Subrata Chowdhury, acting president of Gono Forum, said, “The culture in Bangladesh is such that once parties come to power, they forget those who stood beside them. We had hoped that would not happen this time. They had said they would form a national government with everyone. On different occasions, they said they would value us. Let us see what comes out of the meeting.”
Fariduzzaman Farhad, chairman of the National People’s Party, said, “A national government is not formed simply by appointing one or two people from a few parties to the cabinet. The BNP had said it would carry out the movement together and form the government together. We expect these issues to be discussed.”
Jagpa President Khandaker Lutfor Rahman said, “We will emphasise the issue of giving us proper value.”
Rashed Khan, former general secretary of Gono Odhikar Parishad who later joined BNP, said, “I hope he [Tarique] will gradually give proper value to everyone. Everyone should have faith in BNP.”
Several parties, however, will not attend the meeting.
Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal-JSD Vice President Tania Rob said, “We are not attending the programme. He [the prime minister] will only exchange greetings. Given the current flood situation, we do not think this is the right time for a dinner programme involving so many parties.”
Maulana Manjurul Islam Afendi, secretary general of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam, said the party had received invitations for its president and secretary general. “However, we have made a decision to not join the programme.”
