As the BNP leaders did not allow Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inside party Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s office yesterday, the ruling Awami League leaders termed it frustrating as well as indecent.
PM’s Press Secretary AKM Shameem Chowdhury, who accompanied the premier during the visit around 8:30pm, told the Dhaka Tribune that they were very upset at the attitude of the BNP’s responsible leaders.
“We believed that Khaleda was ill [as claimed by the BNP leaders]. But the BNP leaders could at least receive the prime minister inside the office area. But they did not do so; they kept the main gate padlocked,” he said.
Hasina went to Khaleda’s Gulshan office to express condolence at the death of her younger son Arafat Rahman Koko, 44, who died of cardiac arrest in Malaysia yesterday.
Earlier in May 2009, Khaleda went to Sudha Sadan to stand beside Hasina and convey her condolence on the death of Dr MA Wazed Miah, husband of the premier.
Starting from Ganabhaban at 8pm, the premier’s motorcade reached Khaleda’s office at 8:34pm. She got down from her vehicle around 8:36pm, but boarded again around 8:40pm.
At the entrance, Prime Minister’s Special Assistant Mahbubul Haque Shakil spoke to Khaleda’s Special Assistant Shamsur Rahman Shimul Biswas who reportedly told Shakil that Khaleda had been ill and kept asleep with sedative.
Shimul Biswas was further told Shakil that the BNP chairperson would give the prime minister a schedule when she feels fine.
Shimul Biswas informed reporters about Khaleda’s illness around 8:20pm. He on behalf of his party also thanked the premier for expressing condolence.
The prime minister was accompanied by Industries Minister Amir Hossain Amu, Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed, State Minister for Home Affairs Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and PM’s Media Affairs Adviser Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury.
“It is a matter of regret that the prime minister has failed to meet the BNP chairperson. It is also shame that the premier was not allowed to enter Khaleda’s office,” Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury told reporters.
Kamal told the Dhaka Tribune: “What type of politics is it by the BNP? They kept the gate locked even after learning about the prime minister’s visit.”
