The ruling Awami League, in yet another example of political opportunism, welcomed elected MP Raihanul Haq back to the party recently.

Raihan won a Rajshah I byelection recently as an independent candidate, challenging the party nomination of Nurul Islam Thandu.

The rebel AL man attended parliament session for the first time yesterday.

Clad in Mu jib coat. Raihan was hesitant to attend the AL lawmakers' meeting after the session was adjourned.

"Why not? You still belong to Awami League." Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina told a humble Raihan who queried about the matter. Forty-one days after he was elected on April 22. the rebel leader received a letter from Awami League General Secretary Zillur Rahman, charging him for breaching party discipline by’ contesting the Rajshahi balloting against its nominee, sources close to Rai-han said.

The AL had spared him of disciplinary action considering his contributions to the party, said the letter issued on June 3. It also advised Raihan to work for the party as per the chiefs directives and not to repeat the act in future.

Awami League did not punish its Rajshahi leader when he revolted against the party, unlike it did in two other similar cases earlier.

The ruling party expelled Chayan Islam and Panchanan Biswas, who had revolted against the party to contest by-eleclions in Sirajganj and Khulna respectively. After they were elected, it brought Panchanan back to the fold and is in the process of absorbing Chayan in the party ranks.