Khaleda denied nod to join Iftar at National Press Club, alleges BFUJ faction

BNP chief Khaleda Zia is being denied permission to attend an Iftar at the National Press Club, a group of journalists affiliated to her party has alleged.

Shawkat Mahmud, President of the BNP-leaning faction of the Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists or BFUJ, made the allegation at a hurriedly called press conference on Monday.

“The BNP chief has accepted our invitation to attend the Iftar party but the club management committee is not giving permission citing security reasons,” he said.

The Iftar gathering is scheduled for Jun 21, he added.

“They are citing the intelligence agencies and DMP commissioner. This is not expected from the Press Club management,” he said adding, “This decision goes against the long democratic tradition of the club.”

The Press Club’s General Secretary Farida Yasmin said, “The club is an open place where anyone can come but when it comes to the question of former prime minister Khaleda Zia, the security is a big issue. That’s why the club management has taken this decision.”

“Members of both the factions of the BFUJ are members of the club, so they are treated equally,” she added.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina earlier attended an Iftar at the club which was organised by the Awami League-leaning faction of the BFUJ.

At Monday’s press conference, Shawkat Mahmud, a former president of the Press Club, said, “Security is a lame excuse to bar the BNP chief from attending the programme.”

“Hassan Hafiz and I went to talk to the club management, but they are not ready to listen to our request,” he said. “I hope the club management will change their decision and give the permission.”

He pointed out that there was a joint decision taken by the club that only former autocratic ruler HM Ershad would not be allowed to enter its premises, but even he had been allowed to come here.