Bangladesh News

In a dramatic turn of events, 13 lawmakers of the BNP, a state minister, and a host of former BNP lawmakers today joined former president Badruddoza Chowdhury to form a new party – Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).

The BNP rebels who joined the new party include Sheikh Razzak Ali, former speaker; Oli Ahmed, MP and member of the BNP standing committee; Redwan Ahmed, MP and chairman of the JS Standing Committee on Commerce Ministry; Ali Kadar, MP from Jessore; Jahanara Begum, adviser to the prime minister; Anwarul Kabir Talukder, MP and former state minister for power; Alamgir Kabir, MP and state minister for women and children affairs; MA Zinnah, MP from Chittagong-1; Syed Manzur Hossain, MP And chairman of the Standing Committee on Commerce Ministry; Abdul Karim Abbasi, MP from Netrokona; Barrister Ziaur Rahman Khan, MP from Dhaka-13.

Besides, Deputy Minister for Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs Moni Swapan Dewan sent his letter of resignation from the government to the joining ceremony at Saffron Garden Restaurant on Kamal Ataturk Avenue although he could not be present because of illness.

Badruddoza Chowdhury, who became the president of the LDP by abolishing his Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh , said BNP lawmaker Kabir Hossain is also with his new political body.

A total of 102 BNP leaders and civil and military bureaucrats joined the LDP today. Oli Ahmed has become the executive president and Major Mannan secretary general of the new party. Former major generals Abdus Salam and Ainuddin and ex-secretary Nazmul Alam Siddiqui are among the entrants.

Speaking at the joining ceremony, Badruddoza Chowdhury declared: “From today, a new journey has begun against corruption, injustice, terrorism and failure. The prime minister’s family members have amassed hundreds of crores of taka while corruption and essential prices remained unchecked. Her family has disgraced democracy. We have united today, but the alliance government has been clinically dead long since.”

Oli Ahmed in his speech said: “A time will come when there will not be any party named BNP. More BNP leaders will join us in 15 days. If the BNP mistreats any of our new party members, we will take an eye for an eye.”

Fourteen members of the prime minister’s family have looted the wealth of the country. We have to recover the country’s lost wealth,” he announced.