Dhaka: Hailing Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for inviting its leaders to her tea party, Jatiya Oikyafront on Friday sent a letter to Ganobhaban explaining the reason behind its decision not to join it on Saturday, reports the UNB.

A three-member delegation of the alliance went to Ganobhaban carrying the letter in the morning, Oikyafront’s office chief Jahangir Alam Mintu said.

He said the Prime Minister’s protocol officer-2 Khorshed Alam received the letter which was signed by Oikyafront steering committee member Subrata Chowdhury.

‘We thank you for inviting us to exchange greetings over tea at Ganobhaban on February 2. The issue of the honourable Prime Minister’s tea party was discussed as one of the agenda at today’s (Thursday’s) meeting of the Jatiya Oikyafront steering committee,’ the letter reads.

It also says the steering committee unanimously decided not to take part in the tea party.

‘The government formed through a farce in the name of an election on December 30 is in no way a moral one. People’s minimum democratic rights and their authority to elect representatives through exercising their voting rights were snatched on that day,’ the letter says.

Besides, it says, Oikyafront’s several thousand leaders and activists have been in jail while many leaders and activists of the alliance are still being arrested in new cases.

‘Under the circumstances, it’s not possible in any way to join the Prime Minister’s tea party,’ the letter adds.

On January 26, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina invited Jatiya Oikyafront senior leaders to exchange greetings at Ganobhaban over tea on February 2.

Jatiya Oikyafront top leaders, led by Dr Kamal Hossain, sat twice with the Prime Minister on November 1 and November 7 last at Ganobhaban before the 11th parliamentary elections.

Oikyafront was formed on November 13 comprising BNP, Gono Forum, JSD (ROB) and Nagorik Oikya. Later, Abdul Kader Siddique-led Krishak Sramik Janata League also joined the alliance.

Awami League, led by Sheikh Hasina, formed the government for the third consecutive term following its landslide victory in the December-30 election.

Turning down the election results bringing the allegation of ‘massive vote robbery’, Oikyafront demanded reelection.