CPB, Gonoforum walk out of dialogue over Jamaat’s excessive speaking time

Representatives from the Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB), Gonoforum, and several other parties staged a walkout during the National Consensus Commission dialogue, protesting what they described as Jamaat-e-Islami leaders being given disproportionate speaking time.

CPB General Secretary Ruhin Hossain Prince spoke to journalists during the incident. After Jamaat’s Naib Amir Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher concluded his speech on Wednesday afternoon (June 18), Salahuddin Ahmad, a member of BNP’s Standing Committee, began to speak.

At that point, Mizanur Rahman, General Secretary of Gonoforum, disrupted the proceedings and walked out, saying, “What kind of dialogue is this? With whom are we supposed to have a dialogue? They are doing whatever they want.”

Shortly after, Ruhin Hossain Prince and two others from CPB also exited the room. Mizanur Rahman continued speaking to waiting journalists, and Shahadat Hossain Selim, spokesperson for the 12-party alliance, tried to persuade them to return to the dialogue.

CPB General Secretary Ruhin Hossain Prince explained, “Three Jamaat-e-Islami leaders spoke. When one of our members tried to speak, he was interrupted. We protested against this, and they took note of our concerns. That is why we are returning to the dialogue.”

However, Shahadat Hossain Selim said, “When we tried to speak, we were stopped. Jamaat-e-Islami was making irrelevant remarks, and I pointed out that it was not appropriate. Then he asked me, ‘How many people do you represent?’”

Despite the disruption, members of the National Consensus Commission, including Dr. Badiul Alam Majumdar and Monir Haider, special assistant to the chief advisor, intervened and brought the parties back to the conference room to continue the dialogue.