Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has invited leaders of opposition alliance the Jatiya Oikya Front at her official residence.
Gano Forum General Secretary Mostofa Mohsin Montu told Bangla Tribune that they have been invited at the Ganabhaban on Feb 2.
“We have received an invitation card. But it does not have any details. We are yet to get any phone calls from the Ganabhaban,” he said on Saturday (Jan 26).
Several other members of the coalition’s Steering Committee confirmed Bangla Tribune of receiving the prime minister’s invitation.
They, however, said a decision would come after discussing it in the policymaking panel’s meeting.
Led by Gano Forum President Kamal Hossain, Oikya Front was in October last year. It includes BNP and three other parties— — ASM Abur Rab-led Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, Kader Siddique’s Krishak Sramik Janata League and Mahmudur Rahman Manna’s Nagorik Oikya.
The ruling Awami League has formed a third consecutive government after a landslide victory in the Dec 30 polls, winning with its allies 288 seats after voting was held for 299 seats.
The Oikya Front, which won eight seats, has called for a fresh election after accusing the government of vote rigging and other irregularities
On Jan 13, Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader revealed party chief Hasina’s plans to invite all political parties for ‘dialogue’.
The following day, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said the Oikya Front will need to know the agenda before deciding whether or not to join the government’s dialogue. “We will only join if the agenda includes scrapping the 11th national election,” he told the media.
A few hours later, Quader said that the government will host a meeting of all political parties to exchange greetings, not a dialogue.