Jamaat skips Consensus Commission dialogue
A source within Jamaat also told Samakal that the party had welcomed the London meeting between Yunus and Tarique. However, it expressed dissatisfaction over the announcement of an election timeline through a joint statement from abroad, calling it disrespectful and dismissive
Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has decided not to participate in the second phase of the dialogue between the National Consensus Commission and political parties.
The second phase resumed at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka this morning (17 June). No representatives from Jamaat were present, reports Samakal.
The development comes after a meeting in London between the commission's head and Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus and Acting BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman agreed that it was possible to hold the next national election a week before Ramadan in February next year.
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Meanwhile, a three-member BNP delegation, led by the party's Standing Committee Member Salahuddin Ahmed, and a three-member team from the National Citizen Party (NCP) joined the session.
Confirming Jamaat's absence, Motiur Rahman Akand, a member of the party's central executive council and secretary of its central publicity division, told Samakal, "We are not attending the dialogue today."
A source within Jamaat also told Samakal that the party had welcomed the London meeting between Yunus and Tarique. However, it expressed dissatisfaction over the announcement of an election timeline through a joint statement from abroad, calling it disrespectful and dismissive.
"They feel it would have been more appropriate had the announcement been made from within the country," the source added.
Gazi Ataur Rahman of Islami Andolan Bangladesh said, "There was no representative from Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami in the meeting. I asked the commission why they were absent, as they had attended all previous meetings."
"In response, the commission said they might join after lunch. If they don't show up after lunch, we will assume there is a different reason behind their absence," he added.
He further stated, "There has been consensus on Article 70. Except for the Confidence Bill and Money Bill, MPs will be allowed to vote freely."
Gazi Ataur Rahman also said there was consensus on four Standing Committee chairpersons.
"Additionally, members of other committees will be selected proportionally from the opposition parties," he said.
When BNP leader Salahuddin Ahmed was asked about Jamaat-e-Islami's absence, he replied, "The Consensus Commission will provide further details on this matter."
