Accusing leaders of Dr Kamal Hossain-led Jatiya Oikya Prokriya of creating barriers for forging a unity, AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury-led Bikalpa Dhara says they will be not part of the new alliance if its goal is to bring the BNP back to power.
Barely half an hour after Dr Kamal unveiled a new alliance styled, ‘Jatiya Oikya Front’ with BNP and two other parties, Bikalpa Dhara leadership appeared at a press conference at its chief’s Baridhara residence.
“Bikalpa Dhara will not be part of a plot to bring the BNP back in power,” it Secretary General Abdul Mannan said.
In a clear reference to BNP’s long-time ally Jamaat-e-Islami, Bikalpa Dhara chief B Chowdhury said at the media call that they will not form any coalition with ‘war criminals and anti-Liberation elements’.
“We want a broader alliance against the domination of a single party,” he said.
B Chowdhury’s son, Mahi who serves as the party’s joint secretary general echoed.
“If the sole objective of a national unity is to bring the BNP to power, then we are not a part of it,” he said.
Last year, B Chowdhury floated a coalition ‘Jukto Front’ with ASM Abrud Rab’s Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) and Mahmudur Rahman Manna-led Nagorik Oikyo.
Last month, his coalition forged a unity with Jatiya Oikyo Prokriya, a political platform led by Gano Forum president Dr Kamal Hossain.
On Sept 22, several top BNP leaders shared a rally stage with Dr Kamal and Badruddoza and extended their support to Jatiya Oikya Prokriya’s three-point demand, including formation of a polls-time neutral government.
When the BNP opened talks to join the alliance, Bikalpa Dhara made it clear that a coalition is only possible if the party ditches Jamaat as its ally.
The three groups— Okiya Prokriya, Jukto Front and BNP — were scheduled to meet to finalise their outline for the alliance on Saturday at Kamal Hossain’s residence.
Mahi and his father B Chowdhury went to Kamal Hossain’s home to join the planned meeting. But they found the home locked and eventually departed after waiting in the car for some time before a calling the press conference.
When the Bikalpa Dhara chief was waiting outside his residence, Kamal Hossain was having meetings with BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Manna and Rab at his offices in Motijheel.
Just after 6pm, Kamal Hossain announced the formation of a new anti-government alliance with the BNP, leaving out Jukto Front Convener AQM Badruddozza Chowdhury at a media call at the National Press Club.