The Jatiya Oikyafront leaders will not attend the prime minister's tea party today.

In a letter sent to the Gono Bhaban, the BNP-led alliance yesterday said its leaders will not attend the party.

A three-member delegation of the alliance handed the letter to an employee of the Gono Bhaban, Jahangir Alam Mintu, media coordinator of the alliance, told The Daily Star.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is hosting the event to exchange greetings with leaders of 75 political parties and alliances.

The PM had held dialogue with leaders of these parties before the election.

Distribution of the invitation letters began on January 26.

Left Democratic Alliance (LDA), a platform of eight left-leaning parties, will also not attend the party.

Partners of the AL-led grand alliance, Jatiya Party, Bikalpa Dhara-led Juktafront, Islami Oikya Jote, Khelafat Andolan, and Khelafat Majlish are among the parties expected to attend the event.

The Jatiya Oikyafront leaders took the decision at a meeting on Thursday.

In its letter, the Oikyafront said the government was formed through a farcical election on December 30.

It also mentioned that many leaders and activists of the Oikyafront were behind the bars and it was not possible for the leaders to attend the tea Party in the given circumstance.

Similarly, LDA leader Mujahidul Islam Selim said, “After holding a farcical election, the government is now organising a tea party. We will not go there to legitimise the election.”

Meanwhile, Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader said the BNP's decision not to join the tea party exposed the party's age old negative attitude, reports UNB.

Speaking at a press conference at Awami League president's Dhanmondi office, he said the Jatiya Oikyafront leaders could openly discuss various political issues by joining the programme.

"Many things can be discussed while taking tea as politicians are used to talk about politics. So, the BNP's representatives could talk to the prime Minister at the tea party. They could openly tell her if they have anything to say," Quader said.

The Jatiya Oikyafront has come up with several laudable promises in its manifesto, but making good on the pledges would be a big challenge, if the alliance comes to power, said experts.

Terming some of the proposals time-befitting, they said the alliance had touched many socio-political and economic problems but had not outlined the strategic plans to solve them.

The Oikyafront unveiled the election manifesto yesterday, promising, among other things, to form an all-party truth and reconciliation commission in order to investigate and resolve the incidents of enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings and false cases filed in the last 10 years.

If voted to power, the alliance will bring balance of power between the president and prime minister.

Former cabinet secretary Ali Imam Majumder lauded the pledges of forming a truth commission and bringing balance of power.

"But the commission has to work impartially," he told The Daily Star.

However, on the election-time government, he said the proposal seemed incomplete.

He also praised the proposal of introducing an upper chamber in parliament. There would be checks and balances in enacting laws if the upper chamber is consisted on the basis of proportionate representation of voting. In that case, the government would not be able to pass laws arbitrarily.

"All the political parties come up with lofty promises in their manifestos, but they do not fulfil the pledges after coming to power. We hope Oikyafront will fulfil its promises if it comes to the power," the former cabinet secretary said.

Prof Nizam Uddin Ahmed, an expert on parliamentary affairs, termed the proposal of reconciliation commission a historic one.

"It would be a good initiative if such a commission is constituted and allowed to function properly. Because our politics has become vengeful," he said.

But the alliance did not make it clear who would be in the commission and how it would function, he said.

Regarding the pledge of bringing balance of power between the president and the prime minister, he said many political parties had made similar promises but had not kept them.

Besides, bringing the balance of power will be very difficult. The parliament has to be empowered by ensuring the prime minister's accountability to the House, he added.

However, the promise of introducing an upper chamber to the parliament is not feasible in the present context, he said.

Noted rights activist Sultana Kamal also said the proposals of the manifesto were very good.

The Oikyafront talked about rule of law, women empowerment and zero tolerance towards corruption and extrajudicial killings. The proposals resemble the spirit of the Liberation War, she said.

"My biggest concern is that BNP and Jamaat are with the Oikyafront. The proposals do not match their past records. They do not even believe in these promises," she said.

Theoretically, the proposals are very good but questions remain about the implementation, she added.

Transparency International Bangladesh Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman said the manifesto was a crafty collection of lofty promises, too good to be believed as deliverable, especially bearing in mind the political culture and track record of the largest component party of the Oikyafront.

"As the saying goes, the taste of the pudding is in the eating. Nevertheless, one can at least give them the benefit of the doubt that perhaps this time they are attempting to take the voters to a dreamland!" he added.

Prof Al Masud Hasanuzzaman, a teacher at Jahangirnagar University, said the Oikyafront came up with several good proposals, but how those proposals would be implemented was missing in the manifesto.

One good thing is that they showed a positive gesture and pledged to end the politics of vengeance, he added.

Regarding the pledges about the financial sector, Khondker Ibrahim Khaled, former Bangladesh Bank deputy governor, said, "If other parties [after coming to power] want to implement the pledges, they [the Oikyafront] should support them," he said.

Jatiya Oikyafront Convener Dr Kamal Hossain yesterday said it was a mistake on the part of his party Gonoforum to have joined the December 30 polls with Jamaat-e-Islami leaders contesting under the alliance banner.

He also said they would put pressure on the BNP to sever its ties with Jamaat in order to keep the unity of the Oikyafront intact and strong. 

Dr Kamal made the statements following a meeting of his party's central committee at its office in the capital's Arambagh.

"I've already publicly said that I was not aware of Jamaat's participation in the election [under the banner of the Oikyafront]. When I gave consent [to contesting the polls under the alliance's banner], I was not informed about Jamaat. I think you can call it a mistake," he told journalists.

Around 70 leaders from the Gonoforum's central committee participated in its first meeting after the 11th parliamentary polls. It began at 10:00am and concluded around 3:45pm.

The meeting was organised to discuss the party's next course of action following the election.

The Awami League-led grand alliance won the polls bagging 288 out of the 299 seats. The election to the remaining seat of Gaibandha-3 will be held on January 27.

The Jatiya Oikyafront won eight seats, including six for the BNP and two for the Gonoforum.

Twenty-two Jamaat leaders contested the election with the “sheaf of paddy”, the BNP's electoral symbol.

One of the framers of the country's constitution, Dr Kamal had earlier been criticised for allowing Jamaat leaders to take part in the polls under Oikyafront's banner.

Jamaat-e-Islami had opposed the country's 1971 Liberation War and its top leaders were involved in crimes against humanity.

The BNP has claimed that whoever contested the election with the “sheaf of paddy” symbol were candidates of their party, not of Jamaat's.

The AL said that one of the reasons for the Oikyafront and the BNP's defeat in election with a margin so huge was that they allowed Jamaat leaders to participate in it.

Jatiya Oikyafront rejected the election results, alleging widespread polls irregularities and rigging. They also demanded fresh polls following a national dialogue with all stakeholders.

The AL rejected the demand.

After Gonoforum's meeting, Dr Kamal told reporters that he never did politics along with Jamaat and would not do so in the future either.

"My position is clear. We never did politics along with Jamaat nor [are we] thinking of doing so in the future. Whatever you've said about our politics involving Jamaat, we were not aware of it," he said.

When asked what the Gonoforum's position would be if the BNP did not sever its ties with the Jamaat, he said, “We will talk about it if it happens.”

Gonoforum General Secretary Mostafa Mohsin Montu said their party forged the alliance with the BNP, not with the 20-party or the Jamaat. 

He said, “We raised our objection when the 22 Jamaat leaders were nominated to contest the election with the 'sheaf of paddy'. The BNP's secretary general told us they [the Jamaat leaders] were nominated as BNP candidates.”

Asked whether his party's two elected MPs would take oath, Montu said they would discuss it and decide later.

At the meeting, he said their leaders discussed the post-election atmosphere and worked out their party's future course of action.

Montu said their leaders strongly believe that to wage a democratic movement in the days to come and to “restore democracy”, there was no other alternative to national unity.

Dr Kamal said there was no disagreement among the people regarding the formation of the parliament through a fair and acceptable election.

“No one apart from the ruling party spokesmen are saying that a fair election was held on December 30, while there is no scope for saying it. I don't think it's a big deal to resolve such a problem. The government should hold a fair election within two to three months, enabling everyone to cast votes in the interest of the country and the constitution.

“People should be given a chance so that they can cast their votes as per their will. If you get the majority of the votes in a fair election, it'll be meaningful. If a government is formed through a fair and credible election, it will be easier for it to discharge its duties properly.”

Speaking to The Daily Star, several Gonoforum leaders who were present at the meeting said they discussed the strengthening of the Oikyafront in such a manner that no one can “malign its reputation because of the Jamaat and the BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman.”

The meeting also decided to hold its central council on March 23 and 24.

No one believes that BNP and Jatiya Oikyafront can do anything after they were defeated both in their movement and the election, Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader said today.

Quader made the remarks in reply to queries by journalists at the ferry terminal in Louhajang upazila of Munshiganj.

The ministers of the new government on their way to Tungipara in Gopalganj on January 9, 2019. Photo: Star

The ministers of the new government were on their way to Tungipara in Gopalganj to pay homage to the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu.

“The opposition could not even wage a movement for ten minutes in the last ten years, what will they do now?” Quader questioned.

The ministers, along with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina later paid homage to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in Gopalganj’s Tungipara on the occasion of installation of her government for the third consecutive term.

Awami League President Sheikh Hasina took oath as the prime minister for the fourth time, the third in a row, heading a 47-member council of ministers on Monday, a week after the Awami League-led grand alliance’s landslide victory in the 11th parliamentary election held on December 30.

The new cabinet comprising 24 ministers, 19 state ministers and three deputy ministers took oath at a state ceremony at Bangabhaban Darbar Hall on Monday afternoon.

President M Abdul Hamid administered the oath of office and oath of secrecy to Sheikh Hasina and members of her council of ministers.

There were no polling agents of main opposition parties anywhere throughout Dhaka. The Daily Star went about several constituencies in the capital, but could only find polling agents of Awami League everywhere wearing the badge of the ‘boat’.

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The Daily Star visited Kakoli High School, Dhaka City College, Teachers’ Training College, Dhaka College, University Laboratory School and College, Dhanmondi Government Boys School and College, New Model School and College voting centres.

While plenty of ‘boat’ supporters were seen displaying badges, only the centre at Dhaka City College, where Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina cast her vote, had one or two polling agents of ‘Tiger’ and ‘hand fan’ there.

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The Daily Star visited Mohammadpur Government Primary School, Mohammadpur Girls High School, Rayerbazar Community Centre, Shyamoli Ideal Technical Institue, and Primrose Kindergarden polling stations in the constituency which is witnessing electronic voting for the first time.

There too, no opposition polling agents could be seen anywhere. However, ruling party supporters and polling agents were found roaming around aplenty.

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The Daily Star visited Ispahani School, Viquarunnisa Noon School, and Tejgaon Govt Girls High School voting centres. No polling agents other than those from the ruling Awami League could be seen there in the morning.

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The Daily Star visited five polling centres including Rashid Ideal High School, Al Quran Academy, and Bangabndhu College to find only one polling agent of the ‘sheaf of paddy’ who did not seem very convincing.

Shafiqur Rahman, who claims to have been driven out of Bangabandhu College, alleged that false BNP polling agents were filled in Shahidbagh Girls School. "I was supposed to provide polling agents there. But this morning, it was already filled."