The holy month of Ramzan begins today (Monday). In absence of outdoor political programme, Iftar party politics will replace the scene during the whole month from the beginning aimed at strengthening relation with political allies and supporters.
The major political parties, particularly the Awami League and the BNP, are treating the time as very special. They want to use Iftar parties to make new friends and renew old relations with alliance partners to face opponents in coming days. From this view, the parties have already planned month-long Iftar programmes.
BNP and its alliance partners have attached much importance to Iftar politics this year for indoor campaign, as the BNP-led alliance is planning to launch street agitation after Ramzan to force the government for a fresh poll under a non-party government system.
The AL and the BNP host Iftar functions every year with much fanfare by inviting party chiefs of other parties, but the two top leaders of the two major parties usually do not join Iftar programmes hosted by their opponents. Like the previous years, the parties are already busy to host Iftar parties for political leaders, diplomats, eminent citizens, professionals and destitutes.
AL Chief Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia will host Iftar parties for different quarters. The top leaders of the two major parties will also join several Iftar parties hosted by others. The two leaders take their fist Iftars with orphans and Ulema-Mashayekhs in each Ramzan.
Like the previous years, Sheikh Hasina will host the Iftar party at Gono Bhaban today (Monday). War-maimed freedom fighters and PMO officials are also in the list of invited guests. The PM will also host Iftar party for political leaders, eminent citizens and professionals. She will also attend different Iftar functions to be hosted by others. The party and its several associate bodies will also hold Iftar programmes during the month.
Khaleda Zia will host Iftar party for orphans and Ulema-Mashayekhs at the Ladies Club in the city today. She is already scheduled to host Iftar party for political leaders at the city’s Basundhara Convention Centre on July 2, where she has invited her political arch-rival Sheikh Hasina and other leaders of political parties.
She will also host Iftar parties and scheduled to attend the Iftar parties of others. She will host Iftar party for the country’s eminent citizens and professionals at the Basundhara Convention Centre on July 3, while for diplomats on July 5 at Hotel Westin and for the editors and senior journalists on July 6 at the same venue.
Khaleda Zia will join the Iftar party of Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) on July 8, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami on July 9, Jatiya Party (Zafar) on July 13 at Hotel Westin, Doctors’ Association of Bangladesh (DAB) on July 14 at LD Hall of Parliament Members’ Club, Dhaka city unit of BNP on July 16 at the same venue and National Press Club’s Iftar party on July 17. Top leaders of the BNP-led alliance and leaders of other parties will join these functions.
Jatiya Parity and other parties are also busy to hold Iftar party for political leaders, diplomats, eminent citizens and professionals.
