The BNP has floated mayoral candidates for the upcoming elections to the two Dhaka City Corporations and has already secured support from partners in the 20-party Alliance it leads. However, its allies in the Jatiya Oikya Front are not extending their support, according to a leader of the coalition.
"There have been no discussions with the BNP over the city polls," Mahmudur Rahman Manna, who heads the Nagorik Oikya, told Bangla Tribune on Wednesday (Jan 1).
He added they would not back the BNP for the election.
The BNP, which has said it's joining the polls to "expose vote fraud further", apparently is not too keen on securing its allies' support for the voting slated for Jan 30.
"The Oikya Front [allies] will let us know, if they want to get involved in the Dhaka city elections," Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said on Wednesday, when Bangla Tribune reached him for a comment.
Ahead of the 2018 election, the BNP formed an alliance with Gano Forum, Krishak Sramik Janata League, Nagorik Oikya, ASM Abdur Rab-led Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) and Jatiya Oikya Prokriya.
Gano Forum chief Dr Kamal Hossain, a top lawyer who had headed the drafting of Bangladesh’s first constitution, was made leader of the alliance.
Other Oikya Front allies echoed Manna on not having any discussion with their largest partner in the coalition, the BNP over the election.
"We are yet to finalise officially within the party to back BNP's mayoral candidates. A decision will be made after discussing it with the president [Kamal Hossain]," said Gano Forum Executive President Mohsin Rashid.
Gano Forum General Secretary Reza Kibria, who is now abroad for medical purposes, will return on Jan 13 and a decision can be expected after that, he said.
JSD chief Rab, who according to party insiders is in favour of backing the BNP, is expected to return Dhaka from abroad on Jan 12.
"There has been no official discussion with the BNP. A decision will come if it [talks with BNP] happens," Shahidullah Forayezi, political secretary to JSD chief Rab.
Speaking to Bangla, some Oikya Front leaders, however, said they were open to the idea of backing the BNP, if the party seeks support.
But, a senior leader said on condition of anonymity that chances are slim as the BNP did discuss with allies before finalising its candidates.
However, several senior BNP leaders, who asked not to be named, argued that they did not discuss the issue with Oikya Front allies as it would have raised issues, which might led the party to sit out from the election.