Most leaders of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) are in contact with BNP to keep their election hopes alive as they see little prospect in the Awami League (AL)-led electoral alliance.
AL chief Sheikh Hasina agrees to give LDP 10 to 12 seats from the grand alliance though LDP President Col (retd) Oli Ahmad demands 20, AL and LDP insiders say.
A vast number of LDP leaders may join BNP within next few days to get poll tickets from the four-party alliance, sources say.
A group of top BNP leaders are also trying to include these LDP leaders observing the party’s apparently worse situation, BNP insiders confirm.
The LDP leaders are also interested to join BNP breaking away from their party because the four-party alliance does not have eligible candidates in several constituencies.
The BNP lacks eligible candidates because a vast number of its leaders are convicted or behind bars in corruption cases. Besides, a large number of BNP reformist leaders may not get nomination in the ninth parliamentary election, the sources add.
Against this backdrop, BNP wanted to defer the election schedule to buy some time to re-organise themselves with former party colleagues, who joined LDP, Bikalpadhara Bangladesh and other small parties, say the sources.
“We demanded 30 seats from the grand electoral alliance but will probably get 15 to 18 seats. The rest of our eligible candidates may remain with the grand alliance or not; I can’t say for sure,” LDP Presidium Member barrister Ziaur Rahman Khan told The Daily Star.
He added they had left BNP and formed LDP due to some corrupt and dishonest leaders, who are now either convicted or in jail. “All of our leaders have a soft corner for BNP. Besides, several top and mid-level BNP leaders are contacting us,” he said.
He however said no concrete decision has yet been made.
He thinks BNP chief Khaleda Zia is an “uncompromising” leader who is the main barrier to making the electoral alliance between BNP and LDP. “Khaleda Zia is an uncompromising leader, who doesn’t negotiate with dissidents. Due to her strict ideology, BNP is now in a worst situation,” he observed.
“Some BNP leaders ensured us that they would be able to persuade Khaleda Zia as they get additional time due to election reschedule,” said another top LDP leader.
However, LDP President Oli Ahmad said his leaders are now working unitedly and they have 45 former ministers and lawmakers who have popularity and acceptability in their respective constituencies. These former ministers and MPs can easily be elected under the grand or any other alliance, he hopes.
Asked about his possibility of joining BNP, Oli said: “Bangladesh is a land of rumours. Whatever situation may arise, we’ll take a decision through our presidium meeting.”
“The grand alliance or other electoral alliance 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 said.
Many LDP leaders say they joined the grand alliance to save themselves from BNP cadres, who attacked rebel BNP leaders and set fire to their houses.
Categories: Bangla, Bangladesh, Bangladesh News, Bangladesh Politics, Daily Bangladesh News, News, Politics
