Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has met leaders of political parties and coalition, who joined the pre-election talks, over tea at her official residence the Ganabhaban.
Senior leaders of Awami League, Jatiya Party, Workers’ Party of Bangladesh, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JaSaD-Inu), Jatiya Party-JP (Monju), JaSaD (Ambia), Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal (BaSaD), Ganotantri Party, Samyabadi Dal, Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh, Islami Oikya Jote, Tariqat Federation, Bangladesh Nationalist Front attended the event, reported state news agency BSS.
The event was organised on the south lawn of the Ganabhaban for the guests. A variety of refreshments were provided, including food and drinks.
The guests were entertained with traditional foods and cakes of Bangladesh including chatpati, fuchka, muri, chanachur, and bhapa, chitai, patisapta and puli pitha, zilapi, kebab, nan ruti.
AL General Secretary Obaidul Quader, on behalf of the prime minister, later thanked the leaders of the political alliances and organisations who joined the premier’s tea party.
“You joined today’s event spontaneously and your presence is very encouraging,” he said.
Quader, also the Road Transport and Bridges Minister, said: “We didn’t only exchange pleasantries, we also shared views on different issues including political ones alongside having refreshments.”
Regarding the prime minister’s invitation to the tea party, the AL general secretary said: “I hope that you felt well at the good initiative of the prime minister.”
Quader said the political leaders joined the prime minister’s dialogue at Ganabhaban before the December 30 polls and held open discussions with the premier.
“At the end of the election, we seek your cooperation and the prime minister wants to fulfil her electoral pledges that she made before the nation word by word,” he said.
The AL general secretary said: “On behalf of our leader, I sought your active cooperation in this regard.”
According to a source at the Prime Minister’s Office, the premier invited leaders of 54 political parties to her tea party.
Leaders of all political parties except BNP-led Jatiya Oikyafront attended the event.
The attendees included Awami League leaders such as Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, Amir Hossain Amu, Matia Chowdhury, Sheikh Fazlul Selim, Khanker Mosharaf Hossian, Nurul Islam Nahid, Obaidul Quader, Faruk Khan, Abdul Matin Khasru, Abdur Razzak, Dipu Moni, SM Rezaul Karim, Jahangir Kabir Nanak, Hassan Mahmud, Iqbalur Rahman, Delowar Hossain, Abdus Sobhan Golap, Abu Sayeed Al Mahmud Swapan, Bahauddin Nasim, Enamul Haque Shameem and Biplob Badua.
Among the Jatiya Party leaders were former Leader of the Opposition Rowshan Ershad, party Co-Chairman GM Quader and Secretary General Mashiur Rahman Ranga and former Secretary General Ruhul Amin Howlader.
Jatiya Party (JP) President Anwar Hossain Manju, JaSaD President Hasanul Haq Inu, Shirin Akhtar, JaSaD (Ambia)’s Moinuddin Khan Badal and Nazmul Haque Prodhan and the Workers Party’s Rashed Khan Menon and Fazle Hossain Badshah.
Bikalpadhara President AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury and central leaders MA Mannan, Mahi B Chowdhury and Shamsher Mobin Chowdhury also attended.
There were also representatives from several other parties and political organisations.