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No talks with anyone in Jamaat's presence: AL
The Awami League (AL) has said it would not hold talks with anyone including diplomats if the leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami are present. The AL yesterday informed the US Embassy in Dhaka about its stance and asked them not to invite the party to any discussion if Jamaat leaders are present. The AL asked the embassy to invite them separately to avoid meeting Jamaat.The request came following strong criticism from in and outside the party following talks on different crucial issues with US envoy in Dhaka James Moriarty in the presence of Jamaat leader Mohammad Qamaruzzaman. Earlier, AL leaders informed the National Democratic Institute (NDI) and the International Republican Institute (IRI) representatives in Dhaka about their stance. Insiders say AL Publicity Secretary Asaduzzaman Noor, who along with acting general secretary Syed Ashraful Islam attended the meet, called Jon Danilowicz, political councillor to the US embassy, and conveyed the decision, which is also a crucial stance of the AL-led 14-party combine. "I've phoned the US embassy and made the request not to invite us in future if Jamaat is also invited," Noor told The Daily Star. On Tuesday's talks at the US envoy's residence, he said they did not know that Jamaat leaders would be there. He added, "As we've decided to boycott Jamaat, we'll never sit at any talks or discussion with any diplomats in presence of Jamaat leaders." "We don't mind attending ceremonial programmes like that of the US Independence Day," he said adding, NDI and IRI now don't invite them to the event where Jamaat leaders are invited. In response to Noor, Danilowicz said they would definitely keep it in mind in future. The AL has earlier decided to boycott every programme attended by Jamaat leaders accusing them of resorting to war crimes during the Liberation War. However, several AL leaders violated this decision by joining programmes arranged by diplomats in recent past. Posted by: Fred 2008-07-17 |
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