CPB, Gono Forum stage walkout from Consensus Commission talks over Jamaat's speaking time

Leaders of the Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) and Gono Forum staged a brief walkout from the ongoing National Consensus Commission dialogue today (18 June), protesting what they claimed was preferential treatment towards Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami.

However, the two political parties returned to the dialogue after ten minutes.

The second day of the second round of the dialogue began at 11:30am at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka.

After the lunch break, the session resumed at around 2:45pm.

About an hour into the discussion, CPB General Secretary Ruhin Hossain Prince and Gono Forum General Secretary Mizanur Rahman exited the session in protest.

Speaking to reporters downstairs, Ruhin Hossain Prince said, "There is clear discrimination here. Three members of Jamaat have been allowed to speak, while our representative was obstructed when attempting to speak. When we protested, the Commission took note of it. That's why we are now returning to the dialogue."

Earlier, Gono Forum's General Secretary Mizanur Rahman said, "The Consensus Commission has lost its neutrality. If they do not remain neutral, we will not rejoin the dialogue."

Following their exit, members of the National Consensus Commission, including Badiul Alam Majumdar and Monir Haider, special assistant to the chief adviser, came downstairs to persuade the leaders to return.

Shahadat Hossain Selim, secretary general of Bangladesh LDP and spokesperson of the 12-party alliance, and National Party Chairman Syed Ehsan Huda were also present during this time.

Selim said, "Jamaat told them, 'You don't even represent ten people, while we represent far more.'"

While talking to reporters, Selim clarified that he did not walk out of the session but rather engaged in negotiations.

After a brief resolution, the parties returned to the dialogue.

Commenting on the issue of Jamaat-e-Islami receiving more time during the dialogue,  Ali Riaz, vice-chairman of the Commission, said, "There will occasionally be differences of opinion. All political parties are cooperating. Time isn't measured with a stopwatch, so naturally there will be some frustrations and protests. We have taken note of that."

Regarding the issue, Abdullah Mohammad Taher, nayeb-e-ameer of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, said they took more time today as the party did not take part in the talks yesterday.