Awami League invites BNP to its national council

The Bangladesh Awami League has officially invited the BNP to join its 22nd National Council today.

A delegation headed by Awami League Deputy Office Secretary Sayem Khan went to the BNP central office at the capital's Nayapaltan on Friday and invited three BNP Standing Committee members – Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Abdul Moyeen Khan and Nazrul Islam Khan.

Coming out of the BNP office, Sayem Khan said, "We are sending invitations to a limited number of people. The [BNP leaders] have received the invitation. They will discuss with their senior leaders. We expect all political parties to attend our council."

Regarding the imprisonment of the BNP leaders including its Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Sayem Khan said, "It is a matter of the government and the law enforcement agencies. We have invited those who are responsible for representing the organisation."

Meanwhile, the BNP on Friday said it had not yet decided whether any of the party's leaders will attend Awami League's national council as many of its senior leaders are in jail. 

BNP Organising Secretary and acting Office Secretary Imran Saleh Prince said the three invited BNP leaders will lead the mass processions across the country on Saturday. They had already left for different districts and divisions to participate in the programme.

"Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain will be at the processions organised by the metropolis, north and south district units of the Chattogram BNP. Abdul Moyeen Khan will join processions in Khulna, while Nazrul Islam Khan will be joining the march in Cumilla metropolis, and in the district," Imran Saleh Prince told The Business Standard.

On 10 December, the BNP announced a countrywide programme of mass procession on the same day when Awami League is scheduled to organise its council.

Earlier, BNP Standing Committee Member Nazrul Islam Khan said if his party is invited to the national conference of Awami League, they will consider participating in it.

On 8 December 2009, the Awami League sent a delegation headed by its Secretary of Media Affairs Ashim Kumar Ukil to the BNP's fifth national council.

Ashim Kumar Ukil greeted Khaleda Zia on behalf of Prime Minister and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina.

On 19 March 2016, the BNP also invited Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the then general secretary Sayed Ashraful Islam.