Bangladesh News

The Bikalpadhara Bangladesh and Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) are targeting the BNP reformists to contest the upcoming national election as a separate electoral alliance if BNP boycotts the poll.

However, this new alliance, if formed by AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury-led Bikalpadhara and Col (retd) Oli Ahmad-led LDP, would join the Awami League-led grand alliance if BNP contests the December 18 election, say insiders.

Recently, many pro-reformation BNP leaders including former ministers and legislators have contacted LDP and Bikalpadhara top brass in fear of not getting party tickets, they add.

Around 30 to 40 reformist BNP leaders will join the new electoral alliance if they are denied BNP nomination or party chief Khaleda Zia refuses to take part in the poll, sources say.

“Some reformist BNP leaders have communicated with me and agreed to join us. But they have yet to take a final decision,” Bikalpadhara President B Chowdhury told The Daily Star. He however denied revealing the names of the aspirant leaders.

Similarly, LDP presidium member Barrister Ziaur Rahman Khan said around 10 to 20 BNP reformists are keeping in touch. “They will agree to join us because they know very well Khaleda Zia won’t compromise with them,” he said.

Some leaders from LDP and Bikalpadhara also said Dr Kamal Hossain-led Gono Forum, Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan-led reformist BNP leaders, Ferdous Ahmed Qureshi-led Progressive Democratic Party (PDP), Major General (retd) Syed Muhammad Ibrahim-led Bangladesh Kalyan Party and some other small parties might join them.

They would demand around 50 seats from the grand alliance if contest together but will be satisfied with 30 to 40 seats, sources say. Some leaders from the AL also say Sheikh Hasina would agree to give around 100 seats to Ershad-led Jatiya Party, LDP-and Bikalpadhara-led alliance, and other partners of the 14-party combine.

LDP President Oli Ahmad said they have about 45 former ministers and lawmakers who have popularity and accountability in their respective constituencies and can easily be elected from any alliance.

“The grand alliance or other electoral alliances will be directly and indirectly benefited in 80 seats. We have eligible candidates in 40 seats where BNP candidates were elected in 2001. The four-party alliance can easily be defeated in those 40 seats if LDP gives candidates under grand alliance or any other electoral alliance,” he told The Daily Star.

The idea of forming a new electoral alliance came from AL think-tank to pocket the benefit of BNP not taking part in the parliamentary polls, according to AL sources.

Meanwhile, AL leaders led by acting general secretary Syed Ashraf and LDP leaders led by Secretary General Prof Zahanara Begum held a meeting at Ashraf’s house on Wednesday.

The meeting decided that they would now primarily distribute nomination forms separately for all constituencies and finalise the seat sharing after BNP clears its stance. If BNP refrains from contesting the polls, some leaders from the new alliance would contest in more than one constituency, the sources say.

B Chowdhury may contest from Dhaka-7, Munshiganj-1 and Munshiganj-2 constituencies, Oli Ahmad from Chittagong-13 and Chittagong-14, and Bikalpadhara Secretary General Maj (retd) Abdul Mannan from Dhaka-10, Noakhali-1 and Laxmipur-1 constituencies.

B Chowdhury said his party is capable of contesting from over half of the total constituencies. On the other hand, Oli said they are able to give strong eligible candidates in at least 40 districts.

All partners of the grand alliance will submit nomination forms individually by November 13 and final candidates will be selected after knowing the position of BNP.

Meanwhile, a number of parties have finalised their candidates through interviews. JP (Ershad) has finalised 60 candidates, LDP 45 candidates, Bikalpadhara 30 candidates, Workers Party 25 candidates, Gono Forum 20 candidates, and Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal 15 candidates.