Bangladesh News

US Ambassador Patricia A Butenis finally cancelled her scheduled plan to have tea in her residence with Awami League General Secretary Abdul Jalil and BNP Secretary General Mannan Bhuiyan yesterday.
The cancellation came just a few hours after Mannan Buiyan’s news briefing where he said he would not join the other two for having a dialogue on electoral reforms over tea.

Meanwhile, senior BNP and Jamaat leaders did not attend an iftar party hosted by Butenis in her home yesterday while senior leaders of Awami League (AL) attended the party.

The much talked about tea for three was supposed to be served at 8:00pm following the iftar party.

“Butenis told me sorry my invitation for tea is cancelled,” Abdul Jalil told reporters after the iftar party.

AL Presidium Member Kazi Zafarullah, Chief Whip of the Opposition in Parliament Abdush Shaheed, and Asaduzzaman Nur MP accompanied him to the iftar party.

However, Food and Disaster Management Minister Chowdhury Kamal Ibne Yusuf and his brother Akmal Ibne Yusuf, who is also a lawmaker from BNP, Expatriate Welfare Minister Qamrul Islam, State Minister for Home Affairs Lutfozzaman Babar, and Zahiruddin Swapan joined the party while Qamaruzzaman, joint secretary general of Jamaat was also present there.

On Monday night Butenis invited Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan and Abdul Jalil to her home to have tea with her. Later Abdul jalil told reporters that he would join Butenis to have some tea and said, “I hope he (BNP secretary general) will also join if they want a dialogue.”

Accepting the invitation for having tea, the BNP secretary general however refused to sit for a dialogue with the opposition in the ambassador’s residence.