DHAKA: BNP took exception as Indian Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee did not meet with opposition leader Khaleda Zia during his groundbreaking trip to Dhaka Saturday.

The main opposition party’s Vice-Chairman Shamser Mobin Chowdhury, also ex-foreign secretary, raised the point of diplomatic nicety while talking to banglanews24.com.bd Sunday.    

"During the short visit, there was no schedule for meeting with the opposition leader. But it is a diplomatic provision to meet with the opposition leader," he said.

The BNP leader also said, "It was an exception. No such incident did happen when we were in power."

Any influential foreign leader who had visited Bangladesh then used to meet with the opposition leader, said the former Foreign Secretary.    

He alleged that either the government or the Indian High Commission in Bangladesh did not communicate with BNP in this regard.  

Replying to a question about BNP’s initiative in this regard Shamser Mobin Chowdhury said, “You would know better in this matter if you asked the government."

BDST: 1610 HRS, AUGUST 8, 2010