The Awami League is apparently not bothered over the new political coalition ‘Jatiya Oikya Front’ with its leaders describing it as an alliance of opportunists.
According to them, it’s already proven that there’s no unity among the allies, who have zero political credibility. They say the Awami League is rather focusing on preparations within the organisation ahead of the general election.
The Jatiya Oikya Front, led by Kamal Hossain, was formed on Saturday to call for the Eleventh National Parliamentary Election to be held under an impartial election-time government. The BNP has joined the anti-government alliance.
Former Awami League leader Kamal Hossain’s alliance was also joined by ASM Abdur Rab’s JSD and Mahmudur Rahman Manna’s Nagorik Oikya.
Rab, who was a member of the Bangladesh Chhatra League and later joined JSD, was a minister under the 1996-2000 Hasina government. Manna is also a former organising secretary of the Awami League.
The Kamal-led alliance left out its previous ally, Bikalpadhara led by AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury as cracks opened among splinter groups.
“We are least bothered about Jatiya Oikya Front. The people in this coalition have been always opportunist and resorted to conspiracy. They are always looking for a backdoor to be a part of the power,” Mohammad Nasim, a member of the ruling party’s policymaking Presidium, told Bangla Tribune.
“They have always backed an illegitimate regime. These are the people who endorsed the 1/11 (military-installed caretaker) government,” he said before adding that they will, however, keep an eye on the ‘gang of conspirators’.
The Awami League believes that the new alliance, which has stumbled at the very beginning, will not be a factor for the election and that’s why it has no plans to expand its own coalition, the 14-party Alliance.
“There are crack among them and they will forge a national unity? Bikalpadhara, Nagorik Oikya and JSD floated the Jukto Front pledging to not join with the anti-Liberation forces. But Nagorik Oikya and JSD have now gone for alliance with the BNP-Jamaat,” says Joint General Secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif.
According to him, it’s clear that they have no ethics and their only objective is to going to power.
“Then again, the BNP is a terrorist organisation which has been proven in court. Its organisational capability is also near to nothing, which is clear as it had to forge unity with people like Dr Kamal, ASM Abdur Rab and Mahmudur Rahman Manna, who have been ousted from their own parties,” said Hanif.