Dhaka: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday hosted a tea party for the leaders of political alliances and organisations who had joined the prime minister’s dialogue before the 11th general election, reports the UNB.

Front-ranking leaders of different political parties, including Awami League, Jatiya Party, Workers Party, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (Jasod-Inu), JP (Monju), Jasod (Ambia), Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal (BSD), Ganotantri Party, Samyabadi Dal, Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh, Islami Oikya Jote, Tariqat Federation, Bangladesh Nationalist Front  attended the tea party held at the South Lawn of her official residence Ganobhaban.

The prime minister arrived at the venue at 4:10 pm and exchanged pleasantries with the leaders.

She went round different tables set for the guests, talked to them and enquired about their wellbeing. 

Jatiya Sangsad Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury, senior AL leaders Amir Hossain Amu, Matia Chowdhury, Engineer Mosharraf Hossain, Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, Nurul Islam Nahid, Obaidul Quader, Faruk Khan, Abdul Matin Khashru, Dr Abdur Razzak, Dr Hasan Mahmud, Industries Minister Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun, Housing and Public Works Minister SM Rezaul Karim, Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni, Jatiya Party senior leader and former opposition leader Begum Raushan Ershad, Jatiya Party Cochairman GM Quader, Secretary General Moshiur Rahman Ranga, Ruhul Amin Hawlader, Ziauddin Ahmed Bablu, Anisul Islam Mahmud, Mujibul Haque Chunnu, Sunil Shubho Roy, JP (Manju) President  Anwar Hossain Manju, Jasod President Hasanul Haque Inu and General Secretary Shirin Akhtar, Jasod (Ambia) leaders Moinuddin Khan Badal and Nazmul Haque Prodhan, Workers Party President Rashed Khan and General Secretary Fazle Hossain Badsha joined the tea party.

Besides, Bikalpa Dhara President Dr Badruddoza Chowdhury, General Secretary Major (retd) MA Mannan, Mahi B Chowdhury, Shamsher Mobin Chowdhury, Islami Oikya Jote President Alhaz Misbahur Rahman Chowdhury, Tariqat Federation President Alhaj Nojibul Bashar Maizbhandari,  Samyabadi Dal President Dilip Barua, BNF President Barrister Nazmul Huda and other leaders of Awami League, 14-party combine, PM’s advisers and secretaries concerned to the prime minister were present on the occasion.

The lush green south lawn of Ganabhaban was tastefully decorated with kureghar, mat, mora and earthen pots, while patriotic songs were played on the occasion.

The guests were entertained with traditional foods and cakes of Bangladesh including chatpati, fuchka, muri, chanachur, and bhapa, chitai, patisapta and puli pitha, zilapi, kebab and nan ruti. 

According to a source at the Prime Minister’s Office, Sheikh Hasina invited leaders of 54 political parties to her tea party. Leaders of all the political parties except BNP-led Jatiya Oikyafront attended the tea party.

The prime minister held dialogues with the political parties at her official Ganabhaban residence from Nov 1-7 ahead of the 11th parliamentary election held on December 30.