AL has no objection attending religious functions with Jamaat Ashraful

Bangladesh Awami League (AL) had no objection to attending any religious functions with Jamaat-e-Islami, said AL acting general secretary Syed Ashraful Islam Saturday, a day after the two parties' leaders dined out at a function, reports UNB bdnews24.com.brWe have no problem joining any religious programmes with Jamaat-e-Islami, he told the newsmen following a volley of questions as the party's top leaders Friday took Iftar together with Jamaat leaders at Saudi Ambassador's residence.brAshraful Islam was talking to journalists after some retired army officers joined the AL at the Gulshan residence of AL acting president Zillur Rahman in the city Saturday.brZillur Rahman was seen shaking hands with Jamaat Ameer Matiur Rahman Nizami at the Iftar Party, sparking criticism among the country's patriotic people.brThe journalists asked Syed Ashraful how AL leaders could attend a programme with Jamaat as there was a party decision that AL would not attend any function with war criminal and religious fanatic Jamaat.brIn reply, Ashraf said AL did not attend any state programme with the 'fanatic Jamaat'.brIt was a religious function. Ok, if the Khatib of Baitul Mukarram is a war criminal, will we not stand behind him for pray he fired back.brHe further urged the journalists not to mix politics and religion.brFollowing invitation from the ambassador of our friendly country Saudi Arabia, we went to attend the party. Some days before, the Saudi envoy met our leader Zillur Rahman in this residence. So, it is not that Saudi government had a plan to bring AL and Jamaat together in a programme, he further said to defend the party leaders' presence in the Iftar Party.brSaudi Ambassador in Bangladesh Dr Abdullah Bin Naser Al-Busairi hosted a high-profile Iftar Party at his Gulshan residence Friday.brPolitical leaders, ambassadors, businessmen, former ministers and MPs, editors and high-ranking civil and military officials attended the Iftar Party.brThe AL has boycotted Victory Day and Independence Day celebrations over the past year at Bangabhaban, protesting the invitation of Jamaat-e-Islami who played a controversial role in the war of independence.brOn whether the party would continue attending religious programmes at the invitation of the embassies of Muslim countries, the AL leader said Let the invitation come first, and we'll see what happens.brAL presidium member Amir Hossain Amu said We cannot avoid any diplomatic invitation.brIf our leader (Sheikh Hasina) during her regime was invited to the Pakistan High Commission, didn't she attend he asked.brMeanwhile, AL has urged the country's retired army persons to join the party for the welfare of Bangladesh.brAwami League is interested to take the army officials in the party.brThey have a great job to do for the countrymen, Ashraful told the journalists.brThe officers who joined the AL, at a ceremony at the residence of acting party president Zillur Rahman, include retired majors Khondokar Abdul Hafiz, Hossain Ahmed Khan and Mirza Shamsul Wazed, retired captain Shahed Ullah Chishti and retired air force squadron leader Masrur-ul-Haque.