Smaller parties join hands to set pre and post-poll strategies

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In a rare move, a good number of smaller political parties are working to forge a common platform to resist the anti-liberation forces and deal with pre- and post-election situation.

Mostly left leaning and moderate, the organisations want to counteract Jamaat-e-Islami and the religion-based political parties that they believe patronise militancy in the country.

Workers Party of Bangladesh, Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh (BDB), Gono Forum, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD), Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB), Gonotantri Party and Samyabadi Dal have already met on a number of occasions.

Workers Party General Secretary Bimal Biswas told The Daily Star yesterday that they are having talks to unite for the crucial months leading up to the general election.

“We are also working to chalk out post-election strategies,” he added.

Sources in different other political parties however said the organisations are mainly working towards forming a national reconciliation government minus Jamaat-e-Islami and allies if for any reason the next parliamentary election becomes uncertain.

Some of the left parties, who had few seats in the last three parliaments, also favour a united stance on the issues to be discussed during the dialogue between the caretaker government and political parties. At the same time, they want to strengthen the relations with the Awami League (AL)-led combine.

Some of these inter-party meetings have already discussed the issue and almost all the meetings observed that there is need to establish a sustainable democracy in the country through forming a programme based national consensus government through holding a “really free, fair and credible election” after carrying out meaningful reforms.

“We have discussed formation of a national consensus government with all political parties except Jamaat” said JSD President Hasanul Haque Inu adding that there is no alternative to forming such a government after the election.

Both Inu and Bimal told The Daily Star that they are holding talks to take a common stance on the issues to be discussed during the dialogue with the government in line with the AL-led 14-party.

“Our aim is also to reach a common stance against the communal forces including Jamaat,” said Inu, a key leader of the AL-led 14-party combine.

“We believe all secular political parties and forces should arrive at a consensus on holding a free, fair and credible election to restore democracy and resolve the prevailing political, economical and social crises,” said Bimal Biswas.

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