AL unmoved by proposal to drop non-MPs

Emerging from an AL presidium meeting yesterday, the party general secretary, Abdul Jalil, asserted, "We're not going to participate (in the CPA conference). They're (government) talking about dropping the two non-MPs from the steering committee after we've taken our decision." The AL's reaction came a day after the two political secretaries of the prime minister offered to withdraw their names from the steering committee of the 49th CPA conference scheduled to begin in Dhaka from October 4.

Talking to The Daily Star Sunday night, prime minister's political secretary, MA Harris Chowdhury, said, "If the opposition doesn't want to attend the conference because of our inclusion on the steering committee, we'll withdraw our names considering the country's dignity." He also claimed to represent Mosaddak Ali, the other political secretary to the prime minister.

Saber Hossain Chowdhury, political secretary to Leader of the Opposition Sheikh Hasina, however, found it bizarre that " when the speaker informed the opposition deputy leader of retaining the two non-MPs, the two political secretaries to the prime minister volunteered to withdraw their names the same day from the steering committee".

Saber said the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) should not have the authority to induct or drop anyone from the steering committee, rather the decision should have come from the speaker's office. Saber said it was not just a question of retaining them, but the handling of the matter was indicative of the government's mindset of acting on its own, attaching no importance to the opposition's role. Recalling that the AL had objected to inclusion of the two non-MPs on the 25-member steering committee on August 12, Saber said it took them (government) six long weeks to respond to the objection, and that, too, did not come from the speaker.

Meantime, the ruling BNP has termed the Awami League (AL) decision to boycott conference a "predetermined" one.

"It was a pre-planned move by the AL. In fact, it did not want holding of such conference in Bangladesh," said BNP Secretary General Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan.

Bhuiyan, who is also the minister for local government, rural development and cooperatives, again appealed to the Leader of the Opposition to join the CPA conference.

Talking to The Daily Star at his official residence prior to leaving for China yesterday morning, he said successful holding of the CPA conference would definitely enhance the image of the country. " But the AL does not want it and has decided to boycott the conference," Bhuiyan observed.

"They (AL) are damaging the image of the conference through making unreasonable demands. Nevertheless, I would request the leader of the opposition to join the conference in the interest of the country and democracy. We will give you due honour…please do not create any confusion," he added.