DHAKA, Oct 5: The last effort by CPA top brass to bring the opposition Awami League (AL) in the 49th annual plenary of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) has failed as Sheikh Hasina, president of the AL and the leader of the opposition in the parliament, turned down their request.

Chairman of the CPA executive committee Bob Speller and Secretary General Denis Marshall, along with two other executive members —- treasurer Dr John Marek and speaker of India’s West Bengal legislative assembly Hasim Abdul Halim — requested Hasina to attend “at least one session” to honour the CPA’s tradition.

But, all their efforts ended in vein as Hasina regretted the requests over the ruling BNP’s party’s alleged ‘dilly-dally’ tactics in involving the latter in organizing the conference.