Special Correspondent :
The opposition BNP has raised question about the ‘undemocratic attitude’ of Awami League after the ruling party team recently escaped a seminar in London called by a Member of the House of Lords.
The seminar, called by Independent Member Alexander Charles Carlile, titled: “Terrorism in Bangladesh and Rule of Law” was held in the UK House of Lords, London on Tuesday afternoon where a BNP delegation and some rights activists took part.
Expressing annoyance, BNP Standing Committee Member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury said: “It’s mysterious. It is proved that AL does not believe in dialogue, discussion, democracy and accountability. And it has again proven on the soil of foreign country. It’s very shameful to the people and country in which way the AL escaped the seminar on Bangladesh affairs in the British Parliament.”
Khasru made this comment at a press conference arranged in London on Wednesday to express his party’s view over the boycott of seminar by the AL. He also read out a paper in which Alexander Charles Carlile expressed his frustration for non-participation of AL team.
According to information available, different issues especially latest political situation of Bangladesh and upcoming national elections were discussed in the seminar. At that time, BNP representatives claimed that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina could influence the next election, if it is held under her authorities.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s Economic Adviser Dr Moshiur Rahman and BNP Standing Committee Member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury were scheduled to lead their respective sides in the seminar.
In the Awami League team PM’s Foreign Adviser Gowher Rizvi and former Foreign Minister and AL Joint General Secretary Dr Dipu Moni were included. Besides, the BNP team also includes party’s Secretary of International Affairs Humayun Kabir and Assistant Secretary of International Affairs Rumi Farhana.
To attend the programme, both the teams had reached London in due time. But a few minutes after the seminar had started, an official of Bangladesh High Commission in London sent an ‘SMS’ to the organizer saying that AL team would not attend it. The short message did not elaborate the reasons behind the boycott.
Dr Moshiur Rahman, however, told the BBC Bangla service yesterday that AL team had boycotted the seminar as it was a personal initiative called by an independent member Alexander Charles Carlile. “The AL team would suppose to take part, if joint committee of the UK parliament had taken the initiative,” the PM’s adviser said.
When Dr Rahman was asked whether AL team escaped the programme to avoid the representatives of different rights organizations, including Human Rights Watch, he said: “A person’s discussion is not relevant to us; a committee could do the discussion.”
Countering the statements, Amir Khasru showed two invitation cards and said this year’s invitation card was almost the same like one of the previous year. “Whereas the AL is now trying to put blame on ‘personal arrangement’ or ‘Jamaat’. Not only that, the AL team also had taken part in the lunch party before the seminar had started. We feel embarrassed seeing AL’s attitude,” the BNP leader said.
“When there is no scope of discussion in Bangladesh, in that case such an arrangement brings an opportunity to express the answerability of both sides. So far we think, the AL has nothing to say about the rule of law and terrorism affairs. They are not ready of being accountable,” the BNP leader further said.
Such kind of seminar held in UK in regular basis each year, which was at first initiated by Lord Avebury, then vice chair of the Parliamentary Human Rights Group and Chairman of International Bangladesh Foundation.
