CPA secy-gen invites Hasina to confce

" I hope you will be able to accept this invitation to attend and speak at the opening ceremony and would like to assure you of a warm welcome from the CPA executive committee members, delegates, observers and the members of the CPA secretariat," Marshal said in a letter to Hasina.

But Deputy Leader of the Opposition Abdul Hamid yesterday put three conditions for the main opposition Awami League's participation in the conference.

In a letter to Speaker Jamir Uddin Sircar, who will chair the conference, Hamid said they would attend the conference if the three conditions were met.

These are: To ensure due honour to the opposition leader as per national and international convention, to increase the number of members of the main opposition party in the steering committee and different sub-committees for the conference and exclusion of two non-MPs from the steering committee.

Hamid also requested the speaker to take steps so that the opposition party can take part in the conference.

He alleged the government does not want the Awami League to attend the conference. Though the CPA headquarters agreed to give due honour to the opposition leader, the ruling BNP ignored this, he added.

In his letter on September 12, Marshal said, " It has always been the practice of the CPA that both the leader of the government and the leader of the opposition attend and speak at the opening ceremony of the CPA conference".

Earlier, the AL decided to boycott the conference.