Senior lawmakers in both treasury and opposition benches yesterday agreed that the BNP violated all political etiquettes by not allowing the prime minister to convey condolence to its Chairperson Khaleda Zia on Saturday.
During an unscheduled discussion yesterday evening, the lawmakers thanked Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for her initiative to visit Khaleda following the death of younger son Arafat Rahman Koko in Malaysia.
Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed, however, said he was not surprised by the fact that BNP leaders did not let the prime minister in, but their decision to continue hartal despite Koko’s death stunned him.
Opposition Leader in parliament Rawshan Ershad expressed sorrow at the waste of an opportunity which everyone had become hopeful about – that the two leaders would get to meet each other and the country’s current political turmoil might end.
She said: “I was saddened by the incident, and so was the whole nation.” She asked if Bangladesh’s politics would always remain without any etiquette.
Rawshan said Khaleda might have been ill, but there were leaders such as Moudud Ahmed, and her relatives who could receive the prime minister.
Senior lawmaker Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim said: “The BNP has dishonoured not only the prime minister of the country, they have also disgraced the daughter of the father of the nation.
“After this incident there is no scope for any discussion with them about the country’s fate.”
Suranjit Sengupta said Koko who died on Saturday was convicted of draining the wealth of the country. “But putting that aside, the prime minister went to express her condolences as she has a soft mind,” he said.
Deputy Leader of parliament Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury, Dipu Moni, Waresat Hussain Belal, and Mainuddin Khan Badal also took part in the discussion.