Leaders of political parties allied with the BNP during the anti-government movement voiced frustration at a meeting with Prime Minister and BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman on Monday, saying they have not received due recognition since the BNP assumed power.
They said their parties had been valued during the joint movement but claimed the BNP has since adopted a "go-it-alone" approach. The leaders also called for greater representation of coalition partners in the government and state institutions.
The meeting, followed by a dinner, was held at the state guest house Jamuna in Dhaka. It marked the first formal meeting between Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and leaders of the BNP's alliance partners since the BNP-led government took office.
According to multiple participants, discussions centred on the government's first five months in office, the role of coalition partners in the administration, growing strains within the alliance, and the government's overall performance. Although more than 100 leaders attended, only a limited number were given the opportunity to speak.
Saiful Haque, leader of the Democratic Platform (Gonotantra Mancha) and general secretary of the Revolutionary Workers Party of Bangladesh, said neither the BNP nor the government had held any formal meeting with its allies during the past five months. He alleged that coalition leaders were being sidelined at various levels of government despite having played an equal role in the anti-government movement.
Nagorik Oikya President Mahmudur Rahman Manna, however, praised several of the government's development initiatives and public welfare measures.
Abu Hanif, a senior leader of the Gono Odhikar Parishad, said alliance leaders raised both longstanding grievances and current concerns with the prime minister. According to Hanif, Tarique Rahman listened attentively and assured them that their contributions would receive due recognition.
Participants said the demand for meaningful representation of coalition partners in the administration featured prominently in the discussions. Several leaders also complained that the BNP's dominance at the grassroots level was straining relations within the alliance.
Leaders of several Islamic parties attending the dinner alleged that while left-leaning and younger politicians had been accommodated in the cabinet, parties representing Islamic values had been overlooked.
Maulana Azizul Haque Islamabadi, joint secretary general of Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh, said his organisation, despite being a significant Islamic force, had not received the recognition it deserved. He added that the lack of inclusive participation in governance had disappointed the party's leaders and activists.
Before taking office, the BNP regularly met its alliance partners during the three-year joint movement against the Awami League government. Monday's gathering was the first formal meeting since the new government was formed.
Nearly 50 political parties joined the BNP in the anti-government movement. Ahead of the 13th parliamentary election, the BNP left several constituencies for its allies.
Representatives from the Democratic Platform, Gono Odhikar Parishad and the National Democratic Movement (NDM) are currently serving in the government.
According to BNP sources, around 150 leaders from allied and like-minded parties were invited to the meeting. However, two key allies, the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Bangladesh and the Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD), did not attend.
JSD Senior Vice-President Tania Rob confirmed that the party had received the prime minister's invitation but declined to participate. She said the party had also sent a written response explaining the reasons for its decision.
