As many as 12 political parties, which were part of the BNP-led 20-party alliance, formed a new alliance to implement a 10-point demand, including ousting the Awami League government from power.
Mostafa Jamal Haidar, Chairman of a faction of Jatiya Party (Kazi Zafar), announced the formation of the new alliance at a press briefing at the Jatiya Press Club on Thursday.
The partners of the new alliance are Jatiya Party (Kazi Zafar), Bangladesh Kalyan Party, Bangladesh Labour Party, Bangladesh Jatiya Dal, NDP, LDP (Selim), Muslim League, Jamiyet Ulamaye Islam, Islami Oikkya Jote, Jagpa, Islamic Party and Bangladesher Samyabadi Dal.
"I can firmly say that our understanding and unity with the biggest opposition party of the country BNP will remain the same as before. We are moving forward with a new strategy to build greater unity with the participation of those political parties which are against this fascist government," he was quoted as saying by UNB.
Labour Party chairman Mostafizur Rahman read out the declaration relating to the newly formed 12-party alliance, reports UNB.
"The 12-party alliance will remain active on the streets in a simultaneous anti-government movement with the BNP to force the government to resign and hold elections under a caretaker government through a new Election Commission. We'll continue our movement until the achievement of final victory," he said.
The 12-party alliance also considers the BNP's 27-point outline of 'Structural Reform of the State' as a 'national charter of emancipation' and expressed solidarity with it, he added.
Syed Muhammad Ibrahim, chairman of Kalyan Party, said, "Before abolition, the 20-party alliance held its last meeting at the BNP chairperson's office on December 9, 2022 where the leaders of the alliance decided not to use the previous name 20-party alliance. The 20-party alliance was formed on April 18, 2012."
There are two registered political parties in the 12-party alliance. One is the Bangladesh Kalyan Party and the other is the Bangladesh Muslim League, he added.
The other parties have filed their petitions with the Election Commission for registration and it is expected that a positive result will come, said Ibrahim.
The alliance is planning to go to the divisional cities after December 30 and will take a decision about it soon, Ibrahim said.
"We will join all programs of the BNP and as part of the simultaneous movement we will bring out mass processions on December 30. We will gather at Bijoy Nagar at around 2 pm," he added.
Responding to the formation of the new alliance, Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud said the BNP will not be able to move ahead by forming a new alliance.
"The BNP had formed the 20-party alliance for carrying out a movement and it saw that the wheels of the coalition did not move ahead. Now there will be no progress if they form a 12-party alliance as many parties of the group are inexperienced.
He was speaking to reporters at the Secretariat.
Replying to a query about the upcoming national council of the Awami League, the minister said there is no alternative to Sheikh Hasina in the party, and every activist and supporter wants her to lead the party as long as she is alive.