Dr Kamal Hossain has never allied with the Jamaat-e-Islami and that will be the case in future, says senior leader Gano Forum leader AKM Zaglul Haider Afrik.
“We have not forged unity with Jamaat, but with the BNP and not even with the 20-party Alliance. What goes on between BNP and its allies is not our concern,” he said he said while speaking at a discussion organised by Bangla Tribune on Tuesday.
After weeks of negotiations, on Oct 13, the BNP, Gano Forum chief Dr Kamal Hossain-led Jatiya Oikya Prokriya, ASM Abdur Rab’s Jatiya Samajtantrik Dala (JSD) and Mahmudur Rahman Manna’s Nagorik Oikya formally launched a coalition styled ‘Jatiya Oikya Front’ on Oct 13.
Badruddoza-led Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh, however, was left out. A former president, Badruddoza floated the Jukto Front coalition last year with JSD and Nagorik Oikya.
In a separate press conference the same day, Badruddoza said they are not with the new coalition as the BNP did not sever ties with Jamaat.
Afrik, who sits on Gano Forum’s policymaking Presidium, said on Tuesday that they have allied with “the BNP and Jukto Front”.
“The experience of elections held under the incumbent government is bitter. A free and fair election is not possible in this country under a partisan administration. That’s why we had called for a national unity to ensure a credible election and restore democracy,” he said.
Moderated by ATN News Chief Executive Editor Munni Saha, the discussion was attended by Daily Bhorer Kagoj Editor Shyamal Dutta, BNP Joint Secretary General Mahbubuddin Khokon, Bikalpa Dhara Joint Secretary Mahi B Chowdhury, Awami League Deputy Office Secretary Biplob Barua and Bangla Tribune Editor Zulfiqer Russell.
The talk-show, held at Bangla Tribune studio, was broadcast live on ATN News and webcast on Bangla Tribune’s site and Facebook page.