Quader meets CPB president

Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader today met Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) President Mujahidul Islam Selim at the CPB office in Dhaka.

Quader, also the road transport and bridges minister, went to ‘Mukti Bhaban’, the headquarters of CPB, around 11:00am and held talks with the CPB president and also with the party's General Secretary Shah Alam, reports Bangla daily Prothom Alo.

The leaders discussed current political scenario, quota reform movement, upcoming national election and different political alliances, the Bangla daily reports quoting sources of the two political parties.

CPB did not participate at the 2014 general elections. The ruling Awami League had called on the party to take part in the election at a meeting before the polls at Gono Bhaban, the official residence of the prime minister. However, CPB showed unwillingness to participate in the elections as most of the opposition parties, including BNP, were absent in the polls.

Awami League is trying to expand their 14-party grand alliance ahead of the upcoming parliamentary elections. Even if BNP does not take part in the polls, the AL policy makers are trying to bring as many political parties as possible to participate in the 2018 elections. As part of the move, the AL along with the 14-party alliance held talks with nine other political parties including former BNP Minister Nazmul Huda-led Bangladesh National Alliance (BNA) in the recent time.

The ruling Awami League wants CPB, which recently floated an alliance with seven other left-leaning political parties, to participate in the upcoming national elections. The CPB’s latest alliance has intensified the AL’s interest towards them, a top AL leader told Bangla daily Prothom Alo on condition of anonymity.

The AL general secretary might have visited the CPB office in a bid to build up relations between the two parties, the report said.

However, a CPB leader said that the visit was a mere courtesy call.