Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Monday evening joined a courtesy meeting to exchange greetings with leaders of political parties that had taken part in the simultaneous anti-fascist movement alongside the BNP.
The programme began on the premises of the State Guest House Jamuna at 7:40pm with the recitation of the Holy Quran. The Prime Minister later exchanged greetings with leaders of the allied parties before a dinner to be hosted in their honour.
Prime Minister's Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Rumon said Tarique Rahman arrived at the venue at 7:27pm.
"The Prime Minister has invited the leaders of the parties that were partners in the simultaneous movement to exchange greetings with them at a dinner. He arrived at the venue around 7:27pm," he said.
Rumon said leaders of 41 political parties that had participated in the movement to oust the previous government were invited to the programme.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said the gathering was intended to bring together the parties that had fought side by side during the anti-government movement.
"We struggled together, and our party Chairman and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has invited the leaders of those parties. It is a reunion," he said, adding that the purpose of the programme is to exchange greetings with the leaders of the allied parties by their party chief.
Members of the BNP Standing Committee and the liaison committee formed during the movement also attended the programme.
The event marks the first formal interaction between Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and the leaders of the allied parties since the BNP formed the government after securing a parliamentary majority in the February 12 general election.
Leaders of Ganatantra Mancha, the 12-Party Alliance, Jatiyatabadi Samomona Jote, Gonotantrik Bam Oikya, Islami Oikya Jote and several other Islamist parties attended the event.
However, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami was not invited, as it was not part of the simultaneous anti-government movement, according to sources.
