CPA delegates welcomed

However, our government may still exude hope, as did Jamir Uddin Sircar (who is president of the conference), that the opposition will change its decision and make good of the missed opportunity by joining the meet on the 7th when the formal inauguration takes place.

Meanwhile, despondent by the outcome, and, to push the ball in the opposition's court, the treasury had slotted time for the leader of the opposition's speech on the inaugural day while the preconditions set out earlier were met in their entirety. As the guests are here, the meeting progressed as per the schedule on the very first day i.e. Saturday. The opposition did not miss much as yet.

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The Commonwealth member-countries know better than others that this treasury-opposition musical chair is played in a country that once formed an integral segment of the jewel tucked in the British crown. The historic legacy has bound Bangladesh and the Commonwealth together. The Bangladeshis hence happily welcome the Commonwealth lawmakers to their capital and wish the meeting a success.

We also feel gratified by the posture adopted by the CPA leadership with respect to their expressed intent 'not to interfere in the internal affairs of our country.' The move of the CPA leaders not to interfere in our 'dubious' internal wrangling, despite a spate of shuttle diplomacy by the treasury and the opposition, is indeed a laudable one.

We vividly remember how diligently one of the CW Secretary Generals acted, as an interlocutor, to bring our political leaders together a number of times over the last two decades. Such occasions were burgeoned when leaders of our main political parties refused to sit together to resolve their differences. It is no healthy feeling when the good offices of the Commonwealth, or of any other international entity, is sought time and again to resolve differences on matters that should have been resolved through reliance on our own wisdom. This happened almost 100 years after we managed to extricate ourselves from the colonial yoke.

When, however, well-intended persuasions yield inconsequential outcome on matters that are crucial to our image as a democratically governed sovereign nation, it has a different connotation.

We expect the opposition lawmakers to change their decision; for, such a move will bode well both for our country and for the image of the CPA itself.