After hectic lobbying with the Indian Foreign Ministry, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has finally given up the idea of its chairperson Khaleda Zia having an audience with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the latter's two-day visit to Bangladesh beginning next Saturday.
South Block in New Delhi has switched to silent mode regarding the meeting sought by Khaleda Zia with the Indian leader, according to reports.
However, the Indian leader will have official meetings with Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and will also be having a meeting on the sidelines with Rowshan Ershad, leader of the opposition.
South Block has, however, noted the packed schedule Modi will have in Dhaka as an explanation for the non-possibility of a meeting with the BNP chairperson.
Indian President Pranab Mukherjee, during his visit to Bangladesh in March 2013, was scheduled to meet Khaleda Zia, who was then leader of the opposition. Instead of meeting the visiting Indian head of state, the BNP chief cancelled the meeting on the pretext of her insecurity caused by a hartal which had been called by the BNP itself.