The 20-party Alliance led by the BNP has welcomed the new anti-government coalition, Jatiya Oikya Front, says its coordinator and senior BNP leader Nazrul Islam Khan.
Khan, who sits on the party’s policymaking National Standing Committee, made the remarks while briefing the media after a meeting of the 20-alliance in Dhaka on Monday (Oct 15).
“Our meeting discussed the demands and targets of the Jatiya Oikya Front. We reached a consensus that the formation of the new alliance is a progress towards restoration of democracy by removing the autocratic regime.
“That’s why we, on behalf of the 20-party, welcomed the new front,” he said.
Speaking on the content of the meeting, a 20-party leader told Bangla Tribune “Several leaders of the 20-party alliance wanted to know from the BNP leaders about its next course of action after the party’s involvement with another alliance.”
He said BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir assured allies that the importance of the 20-party will not diminish due to the formation of the Oikya Front.
On Saturday, The BNP, Gano Forum chief Dr Kamal Hossain-led Jatiya Oikya Prokriya, Mahmudur Rahman Manna’s Naogorik Oikya and ASM Adbur Rab’s Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) have floated a new anti-government alliance leaving out AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury’s Bikalpa Dhara.
The newly-formed Jatiya Oikya Front has put forward its seven-point demands and 11-point vision.
The seven demands include formation of a non-partisan government through discussion with all political parties, after the resignation of the incumbent government and dissolution of the parliament to hold a fair election; release of all political prisoners, including Khaleda, and withdrawal of false cases filed against opposition leaders and activists.
Their demands also include Election Commission reform with qualified personnel, no use of electronic voting machines (EVMs) in the next election, withdrawal of false cases filed against students and journalists, and deployment of army personnel with magistracy powers 10 days before the national polls.