Two allies in the BNP-led alliance have announced that they are no more with the coalition.
Bangladesh NAP and NDP announced on Tuesday that they are leaving the 20-party Alliance.
During a media call, NAP Chairman Jebel Rahman Gani said that they were disappointed with the way the new anti-government alliance’s leadership treated Bikalpa Dhara chief AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury.
“From this very moment NAP and NDP have severed all ties with the 20-party Alliance,” said Gani, who was flanked by NDP chief Khondokar Golam Mortuja.
The announcement came three days after formation of the new anti-government alliance ‘Jatiya Oikya Front’.
On Saturday (Oct 13), 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) launched the new alliance leaving out AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury’s Bikalpa Dhara.
NAP and NDP leaders felt that the by forming the Jatiya Oikya Front, the 20 party alliance will be rendered inactive.
NAP was formed under the leader of late Moulana Bhashani in 1957 and in 1976 joined Ziaur Rahman’s nationalist front.
At that time, NAP was divided with a small faction leaving the BNP while the other, led by Jadu Mia, joined BNP under the paddy sheaf symbol.
Ealier Gani told Bangla Tribune that the BNP did not take any initiative to talk to partners in the 20 party alliance over the next elections.
There’s also simmering grievance because in 2015, Jebel Rahman Gani did not get BNP’s support to run in the UP chairman election in Nilfamari-1.
We had a lot of expectations from BNP but they have not materialised, he deplored, adding: “we express our disagreement with the current political plan of BNP; whenever we raised the issue of election, they diverted it by referring to the imprisonment of Khaleda Zia.”
It’s believed that NAP and NDP may be seen in B Chowdhury’s Jukto Front or any other alliance.
To strengthen democracy in Bangladesh, we may join a political alliance, said Jebel Rahman.
“At this moment I cannot blindly take the leadership of Dr. Kamal or barrister Mainul.”