The ruling Awami League is optimistic but not complacent about extending its 10-year hold on power as rival political parties step up their games ahead of the 11th parliamentary election.
With the polls right around the corner, opposition parties have been uniting under a common cause in order to gain political strength.
To ensure victory, the ruling party also wants to team up with like-minded political parties under a “grand alliance”.
According to Awami League sources, several political party leaders have already met with ruling party and 14-party leaders to express their interest in participating in the election as allies.
They include representatives from Zaker Party, Islamic Front Bangladesh, Trinamool BNP, Krishak Sramik Party, Bangladesh Sammilita Islami Jote, National Democratic Alliance, Ganatantrik Andolan, Jago Dal, Ekamot Andolon, and Ganatantrik Jote, and the newly formed Bam Ganatantrik Jote.
In addition, Awami League top brass believe Juktofront led by AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury, Liberal Democratic Party, Krishak Sramik Janata League, and the Islamic Party of Bangladesh will also join to form a grand alliance.
Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader on October 2 called on leftist parties, including the Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB), to stand by the ruling party ahead of the upcoming national polls.
“Let us form a greater unity. Let us join hands in the spirit of the Liberation War,” he said.
His remarks were apparently aimed at the Left Democratic Alliance, a platform of eight leftist parties which formed in July, led by CPB.
On the other side of the political spectrum, the main opposition BNP has this month joined a new anti-government alliance which is aiming to force the ruling quarter to form an all-party caretaker government ahead of the general election.
Gono Forum President Kamal Hossain unveiled the new political alliance, Jatiya Oikya Front, saying it was for “the greater good of Bangladesh”.
Although it is courting interest from other potential partners, the Awami League is not keen on expanding the size of the 14-party alliance.
“We cannot say anything about expansion of the alliance yet,” 14-party spokesperson, Mohammad Nasin, said. “If parties believe in spirit of the Liberation War and want to join us, the prime minister will be the one to take the final decision.”
Jatiya Party had participated in the 2008 national election as part of the Awami League-led grand alliance, something the ruling party thinks will be repeated in the upcoming polls.
Apart from that, Obaidul Quader has said a few applications were received from parties hoping to join the 14-party alliance. He remained tight-lipped, however, on the pace of the development.
“Though they (parties) are interested, we are yet to disclose what we think,” he said. “We just hear their interest; the final decision will come from the Central Working Committee meeting.”