by Partha Pratim Bhattacharjee in The Daily Star, July 21, 2023
The Awami League has decided to forge a new electoral alliance eying the upcoming national polls, after facing backlash from some of its 14-party alliance partners over the planned inclusion of some Islamist parties in it.
The current 14-party alliance is pro-left — the majority of it being comprised of leftist organisations.
The new political alliance is likely to include five to six registered Islamist political parties and some other pro-democratic parties, said sources. The leftists vehemently oppose the political ideologies harboured by the Islamists.
This move to form a new alliance is likely to take shape in September, said sources.
Sources said AL’s ‘ideological’ alliance with the 14 parties will remain intact, while the new alliance will be considered as AL’s electoral alliance.
The government has taken the initiative as some political parties showed their interest in joining the ruling Awami League-led 14-party alliance. On the other hand, keeping the equation of votes in mind, the ruling party has also wooed some Islamist parties to join it.
The issue of expansion of the 14-party alliance came at the discussion at Wednesday’s meeting between AL president Sheikh Hasina and the partners of the ruling alliance.
The issue was raised at the meeting by 14-party coordinator Amir Hossain Amu.
He informed the alliance partners that some of the political parties showed their interest in joining the AL-led alliance, but existing partners opposed the move, said sources.
Hasina, also the prime minister, then hinted at forging a new political alliance in support of the government.
Contacted, Amir Hossain Amu told the Daily Star that a decision has been made to forge a new alliance with the parties which have already shown interest to join the 14-party alliance and those who will show interest in the future.
“We will coordinate the move,” he added.
Pragatishil National Awami Party led by Parosh Bhashani, grandson of Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani, Syed Bahadur Shah-led Islamic Front Bangladesh and recently registered Bangladesh Supreme Party have already expressed their interest to be the part of AL-led alliance.
AL also had talks with Kader Siddique-led Krishak Sramik Janata League to bring the party under its banner.
On the other hand, Mostafa Amir Faisal Mujaddedi-led Zaker Party and Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh will be included in the alliance, said sources. Those two parties are already a part of the AL-led grand alliance.
Alliance with the main opposition Jatiya Party depends on BNP’s decision of joining the polls, said AL sources.
The 14-party alliance was formed in 2005, comprising 11 left-leaning parties including Awami League, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) and National Awami Party (NAP). Tarikat Federation and Jatiya Party (JP-Manju) joined hands with the alliance ahead of the 2008 national polls.
Just before the 2008 election, the Grand Alliance was formed with the Jatiya Party and Mostafa Amir Faisal Mujaddedi-led Zaker Party joining the AL-led camp.
Before the 2018 national polls, Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh was brought into the Grand Alliance and its candidates contested the election with “Boat” — AL’s party symbol. https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/politics/news/new-al-alliance-itll-be-made-mostly-islamist-parties-3374371
