The main political parties of the country has been reinforced their diplomatic efforts. The ruling party, Awami League, is going to exchange visit with other countries. One representative team of AL is already in China. Another team of AL is scheduled to visit India very soon. On the other hand, BNP, who has been out of power for a long time, is also active in various embassies and also in the countries in terms of diplomatic efforts.
According to the sources, on the invitation of China Communist Party, a 17-members representative team of AL arrived in Beijing on Sunday night. The team is led by Col. (Retd.) Muhammad Faruque Khan, presidium member of the party. The AL leaders said in this visit, the matter of cooperation from China as well as fostering pressure over Myanmar in solving Rohingya issue will be given importance. In addition, the political experience exchange and discussion of bilateral issues will be in the agenda.
According to AL leaders, the party is giving importance to China and India visit ahead of upcoming national polls. In the team visiting China, there are: Faridunnahar Laily, agriculture and cooperative secretary of the party, Sirajul Islam, religious affairs secretary, Delwar Hossain, forest and environment secretary, Shamsun Nahar Cahap, education and human resource affairs secretary, , Dr Rokeya Sultana, health and population affairs secretary, Sayem Khan, deputy-office secretary, Kazi Nabil Ahmed, MP. In addition there are: central executive members Sufra Begum Rumi, Parveen Zaman Kalpana, Gloria Sarker Jharna, Anwar Hossain, Shahabuddin Faraji, Azizus Samad Don and a few others.
On the other hand, another team of AL will visit India on invitation of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) very soon. The team will be led by AL general secretary and Road Transport and Bridge Minister Obaidul Quader. The list of members of representative team for visiting India will be finalized after the return of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina from Qatar. This visit is signified as “Party to Party’ visit.
BNP active in embassies and various countries: BNP, who regularly conducts diplomatic activities, has now intensified its activities. This activity of the party includes the demand of a neutral government during the election. With the help of several international powers including the United Nations, the European Union, the United States, and the United Kingdom, BNP wants to ensure that the next 12th parliamentary elections in the country will be held under a neutral government. Some senior leaders of the party are in regular contact with diplomats. The BNP leaders are going to different embassies in Dhaka to highlight the importance of the upcoming national elections to the diplomats.
Apart from this, BNP will send letters to the United Nations, European Union and the Commonwealth to resolve the political crisis on various issues including the upcoming National Parliament elections under a non-partisan neutral government. Sources said, the letter will urge various institutions and entities to play a role in the protection of democracy, human rights and the rule of law.
Furthermore, the government's suppression of the opposition party, obstruction of meetings, arrests, assaults and cases of ICT act will be highlighted to make it rationale of holding elections under a non-partisan caretaker government. The letter will be signed by Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.
As a part of regular activities, they are informing about the situation of the country with specific information about attacks, cases and killings of opposition party leaders and workers by ‘ruling party and governmental authorities.’
According to party sources, the government is under pressure due to US sanctions against RAB and its former and current seven officials. Diplomatic efforts have been stepped up to create more pressure on the government to implement the demand for holding national elections under a non-partisan and impartial government. The high command of the party feels that the support of foreign friends is needed along with the street movement to fulfill the demand of elections under a neutral government. As a part of this, the US diplomats assigned to Dhaka held a meeting with the BNP leaders at the American Club in Gulshan of the capital on May 19. Political Chief of the US Embassy Brandon Scott, Political Officer Matthew Bay, Political Consul Daniel Sherry were present in the meeting. Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, member of the party's standing committee and Shama Obaid, organizational secretary, were present on behalf of BNP. Earlier, BNP leaders held meetings with the European Union and India.
@The report was published in Bengali on print and online versions of The Bangladesh Pratidin on May 23 and rewritten in English by Lutful Hoque
