Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh chief AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury’s proposal of a ‘national government’ after the next parliamentary polls has drawn sharp reactions from politicians and analysts.
Chowdhury, who formed Bikalpa Dhara after the BNP ousted him, also serves as the president of a political coalition styled 'Jukta Front'.
It consists of three other parties — Kader Siddiqui’s Bangladesh Krishak Sramik Janata League (KSJL), ASM Abdur Rab led Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) and Nagorik Oikya led by Mahumudur Rahman Manna.
The proposal, however, has created a difference of opinion even within the coalition.
Sources in the Jukta Front told Bangla Tribune that it’s “entirely Chowdhury’s personal view.”
Chowdhury floated the proposal during a political event on May 29, when he said formation of a five-year national government was imperative to stop “violence and injustice after the national election.”
The proposal also came up during the Jun 2 discussion organised by Rab-led JSD.
A senior Jukta Front leader, asking not to be named, said, “First of all, the national government will be formed after the polls. Now if a single party clinches more than 150 seats, then why would it opt that?”
Citing Chowdhury’s logic of averting instability, the leader said, “Then how do we describe the existing situation— the countrywide killings, intervention in the judiciary?”
Another leader, who also preferred anonymity, questioned the proposal’s rationality regarding the political scenario.
According to him, discussing a national government overlooking the current situation does not make any sense.
Coming down hard on Bikalpa Dhara chief Chowdhury, he said the proposal can be discussed with the BNP.
“But what’s all about raising this issue out of the blues rather than talking about the killing of Ekram (the Teknaf councilor who died in the drug raid)?”

According to another Jukto Front leader, the coalition is not keen on the extra judicial killings rather turned down a proposal for a fact-finding mission to Cox’s Bazar and holding a rally there.
Nagoril Oikya’s Manna, who serves as the coalition’s spokesperson, maintained that it was Chowdhury’s personal opinion.
“We have not discussed it in the coalition. So, the Jukta Front does not own it. B Chowdhury himself made it clear that he had just proposed it,” he told Bangla Tribune.
According to several coalition leaders, the election is actually between the two major parties and there’s no option other than siding with the BNP as the government is poised for a "meaning-less election".
The proposal evoked mixed reactions from pro-BNP intellectuals.
Those lenient towards Chowdhury found it as a way to prevent post-polls violence while others described it as anti-democratic.
Gonoshasthaya Kendra founder Zafar Ullah Chowdhury says he believes violence is inevitable after the polls, “whoever comes in power— the Awami League or BNP”.
“There’s no doubt a national government will save the lives of at least 10,000 people,” he told Bangla Tribune.
Former Dhaka University VC Emajuddin Ahmed brushed it aside saying he finds it meaningless.
“We have no such plans. What national government?” he told Bangla Tribune adding it’s meant for small parties who have no popular support.
He advised B Chowdhury to strengthen his organisation.
According to Ahmed, the existing situation does not call for a national government.
Ahmed said, “To address the matter of killings, the law enforcing agencies need to be strengthen; where does a national government fit in this scenario!”
The BNP says it has not discussed the proposal within the party’s forum.
“It’s yet to be discussed, but the secretary general (Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir) can say better. I can’t say,” National Standing Committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain told Bangla Tribune.
Mirza Fakhrul could not be reached for a comment as he is now in Bangkok.
Bangla Tribune reached Bikalpa Dhara chief Badruddoza Chowdhury over phone, but he declined to comment saying he was busy.