Oppn abstains from Hasina's Iftar

Badruddoza Chowdhury and Kader Siddiqui show up at the prime minister's Iftar party Updates

Dhaka, Aug 6 (bdnews24.com) – The prime minister has hosted an Iftar party in the honour of politicians.

Bikalpadhara Bangladesh president A Q M Badruddoza Chowdhury, Krishak Sramik Janata Party president Kader Siddiqui, heads of the Grand Alliance parties, cabinet members and senior leaders of the Awami League and its affiliated organisations formed the gathering at Sheikh Hasina's official residence Ganabhaban on Saturday evening.

However, as expected, BNP chief Khaleda Zia, also an invitee, did not show up.

Hasina, who along with the party general secretary had received invitation from Khaleda for an Iftar, also did not attended the party two days ago.

The last time the two top leaders were seen together was on Sept 10, 2009 at an Iftar party organised by the Armed Forces Division.

BNP recently approached Badruddoza, its founding secretary-general, and Kader Siddiqui as part of its move to expand its alliance base to boost the ongoing anti-government movement.

Badruddoza and Siddiqui had attended Khaleda's Iftar on Thursday.

Jatiya Party chairman H M Ershad, his wife Rowshan Ershad, secretary-general Ruhul Amin Hawlader, two presidium members, Jatiya Party (JP) chairman Anwar Hossain Manju, Communist Party of Bangladesh general secretary Mujahidul Islam Selim, faction chairman of Islami Oikya Jote Misbahur Rahman, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JaSaD)'s Hasanul Haq Inu, Shirin Akhter, Moin Uddin Khan Badal and Bikalpadhara secretary-general M A Mannan took part Hasina's Iftar.

On the stage, Hasina was flanked by the Ershad couple, Badruddoza, Inu, Misbah, Awami League's Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury, party general secretary Syed Ashraful Islam and advisory council member Suranjit Sengupta.

'WE'RE SAME FAMILY MEMBERS'

The prime minister arrived at the Iftar pavilion set up on the Ganabhaban ground around 6:15pm. She went around the place and greeted the guests.

On the stage, she spoke to Selim for a pretty long time and later to Kader Siddiqui.

Asked, the latter told bdnews24.com that they held 'normal talks'. "We're members of same family."

Selim said the prime minister enquired about party's ailing president Manjurul Ahsan Khan.

Insisted for details, he said, "I told her [Hasina] about my thoughts centring the country's situation. She replied she was not tense. I reminded her that Bangabandhu [Sheikh Mujibur Rahman] would also react with similar words."

The CPB leader also said that they were also initiating an alliance, based on the spirit of the Liberation War, secularism and socialism.

Ershad said he exchanged greetings with the prime minister, saying that Iftar was "not the place to discuss politics".

NOT PROPER TO TALK ABOUT POLLS

As journalists wanted to know Badruddoza's stance about elections, he urged them to have patience and passed on the query to Awami League's Obaidul Quader, who was standing beside him, "What's your opinion?"

Presidium member Quader said, "Respectable people know where to get respect."

Asked about extending alliance, he replied in negative. "We're not holding talks with anyone now since the elections are too far away."

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