Bangladesh News

Awami League (AL)-led grand electoral alliance almost completed its preparations for contesting the upcoming election whenever it happens, according to alliance sources.
Jatiya Party (JP) Chairman HM Ershad yesterday morning met AL President Sheikh Hasina in her Sudha Sadan residence in the capital and discussed the issue of seat sharing with her.

AL General Secretary Abdul Jalil sat with Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leaders in his Gulshan residence yesterday evening to discuss the same while LDP President Badruddoza Chowdhury was scheduled to hold talks with AL leader Sheikh Hasina at the time of filing this report late last night.

Sources said AL is likely to finalise its candidates today while it was roughly decided that Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) will contest in four constituencies, Gono Forum in three and Workers Party in four constituencies under the auspices of the grand electoral alliance.

According to the primary decision JSD will contest in Kustia-6, Chittagong-10, Panchaghar-1 and Sunamganj-4 constituencies while Gono Forum will contest in Cox’s Bazar-1, Dhaka-3 and Manikganj-3, and Workers Party will contest in Barishal-2, Rajshahi-2 and also in a constituency in Shatkhira district.

Zaker Party will contest in Faridpur-4 and Islami Oikkyo Jote will contest in Narail-2.

AL is also continuing its discussion with Jana Sanghati Samity, and Krishok Sramik Janata League to bring them into the fold of its grand alliance based on similar seat sharing.

Sources said during almost two-hour long discussion Sheikh Hasina and HM Ershad finalised around 35 constituencies for JP to contest in and decided to continue their discussion on seat sharing as JP top leaders placed demands for a few more seats.

However, they failed to reach a decision regarding what constituency Ershad’s dissident wife, Roushan Ershad, will contest in. According to the sources, Ershad wanted two seats for his wife but Sheikh Hasina wants to give Roushan only one. JP leaders said they will talk again with the AL General Secretary Abdul Jalil on Friday night.

The two leaders also discussed the matter of forming the next government if the people vote them to power, the sources added.

Ershad, however, drove away being accompanied by JP leader Anisul Islam Mahmud, without briefing reporters on the upshot of the meeting that ended at 11:00am.

The former military ruler has been getting renewed public attention since he joined the December 18 grand rally that ended with announcing the formation of the grand electoral alliance.

But, Abdul Jalil told the reporters following the summit that they discussed the latest political situation, strategies for the ongoing movement, and the electoral preparations.

“Nothing is certain. We may or may not participate in the election,” Jalil told the reporters when asked about the possibility of them participating in the upcoming election.

He also said, “There will be no election in the country without a flawless voter list,” reiterating his grand alliance’s demand for a fresh election schedule following scrapping of the current one.

Later, LDP Secretary General Major (retd) Abdul Mannan, Anwar Kabir Talukder and Firoje M Hasan met Abdul Jalil in the evening in his Gulshan residence and discussed seat sharing.

Sources said, during the meeting LDP-led Jatiya Oikya Front (JOF) asked for 60 seats. No decision was taken in the meeting which is to continue, the sources added.

“The grand alliance won’t take part in the election under the prevailing situation… We won’t take part without a level playing field even if 14-party does,” Abdul Mannan told reporters after the meeting.

The sources also said after finalising the list of constituencies for LDP leaders, LDP chief also a former president of the country, AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury, might meet AL President Sheikh Hasina to discuss strategies for the grand alliance’s ongoing movement.