Jamaat skips National Consensus Commission talks

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami skipped Tuesday’s session of the National Consensus Commission dialogue.

The party said that it refused to participate in protest against the government’s decision to negotiate the election schedule solely with BNP, raising concerns about the government’s impartiality.

The second round of the dialogue began on Tuesday (June 17) at the Foreign Service Academy on Bailey Road in Dhaka, after the Eid holidays. Although 30 political parties and alliances were invited to the three-day dialogue, Jamaat was absent.

Jamaat’s Assistant Secretary General Dr. Hamidur Rahman Azad said, “The government has clearly shown its position by deciding the election date in a separate meeting only with BNP. This raises doubts about the government’s neutrality. The government needs to clarify its stance on this.”

Jamaat sources said they boycotted only the first day’s dialogue as a symbolic protest but might participate in the remaining two days. A Jamaat leader added that if the organizers ask about their absence, they will explain the party’s position.

Earlier, on June 13 in London, BNP’s Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman and Chief Advisor Dr. Muhammad Yunus held a meeting. After the meeting, a joint statement said that elections could be held in February under the condition of progress in reforms and justice.

Jamaat strongly criticized this joint statement, saying it is unacceptable for a neutral government’s head to issue a joint declaration with a political party. They said the government’s neutrality is now in question, and the public sees that BNP is being favored.

Jamaat leaders said, “By holding separate talks and making announcements, the government has effectively presented BNP as the only political force. This damages political balance and creates administrative obstacles for other parties.”

They also said the government seems to be repeating the 2008 ‘safe exit’ strategy again. Jamaat believes the election date announcement would have been more acceptable if it had come right after talks with BNP.

Meanwhile, Tuesday’s dialogue discussed the 70-point charter, election procedures for reserved women’s seats, and opposition participation in parliamentary standing committees. There are disagreements between BNP and Jamaat on these issues.

Jamaat leaders attending the dialogue said, “Jamaat has compromised on many issues, but BNP has opposed every issue. The government’s attitude gives the message that reforms will happen only if BNP agrees. This undermines the main purpose of the dialogue.”