Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury’s alliance Jukto Front has hinted at contesting the Dec 30 election as an ally of the ruling Awami League-led coalition.

“I can confirm we are contesting the polls and not ruling out the possibility of entering into an alliance,” Bikalpa Dhara Senior Joint Secretary General Mahi B Chowdhury told the media after a meeting with Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader on Tuesday (Nov 13).

Mahi, the son of Badruddoza, however, declined to provide details claiming his meeting with the senior ruling party leader as an ‘informal’ one.

“Formal talks between Jukto Front and the 14-party Alliance (led by Awami League) will open soon. Today’s meeting is the first step towards it,” he said. 

Responding to query on Jukto Front’s recent foray with the BNP and Jatiya Oikya Front as well as its anti-Awami League stance in the past, Mahi said, “Since its inception Bikalpa Dhara was never against the Awami League or the BNP; we do politics for Bangladesh.

“We had opened talks with the BNP expecting that as the party founded by Ziaur Rahman, it will ditch Jamaat. But it did not happen. It’s unfortunate for the BNP as well as for Bangladesh.”

Mahi said that Bikalpa Dhara Secretary General Abdul Mannan has been speaking with Awami League’s Obaidul Quader for the last few days.
Asked whether they are joining the AL-led 14-Party Alliance, he said, “We are not entering the 14-party Alliance. But have opened talks to join the Grand Alliance.”