Allies of AL led 14 party alliance have opposed the idea of expanding ahead of the impending 11th parliamentary election.
Leaders of the current 14 party alliance do not feel the need to widen the ambit of the alliance.
They feel an expansion plan will dilute the existing spirit. On Tuesday, when the proposal for expansion was raised at a meet held at the prime minister’s political office, Dilip Barua from Samyabadi dal, Anisur Rahman from Workers’ Party, Rezaur Raman of BASAD and others took a stand against it.
In this regard, Workers’ Party leader, Anisur Rahman Mallik, told Bangla Tribune: “many allies of AL have expressed their unwillingness to expand.”
At the meet, the quota issue was also discussed with Sharif Nurul, leader of one faction of JSD, and others terming it a ‘conspiracy.’
In resolving the issue, political intervention is essential, instead of reliance on bureaucrats, came the united call from several leaders.
Rajshahi, Sylhet and Barishal city corporation elections were also discussed. When joint convener of Communist Centre, Asit Ray, underlined existing rumours around AL’s Barishal mayor election candidate, Sadik Abdullah, his statements were challenged by an irate AL oganisational secretary, Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury.
Khalid defended Barishal candidate by saying that he had lost relatives in the brutal killing carried out on 15 Aug, 1975.
However, others diffused the situation saying that Asit Ray had not made the comment to disparage Sadik Abdullah.