The Jatiya Party’s plan to bring some political parties under its umbrella by forming a new alliance has been thwarted as its probable partners cannot trust HM Ershad anymore as his party joined the “all-party” polls-time government.
The parties of the planned alliance are now considering to float the combine without the Jatiya Party.
The former military dictator and Jatiya Party chairman had planned to form a new alliance with parties other than the BNP- and Awami League-led alliances only a few of days before his party leaders took oath in the new cabinet.
On November 13, Ershad, Bikalpadhara Bangladesh President AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury, Krishak Sramik Janata League President Kader Siddique and Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) chief ASM Abdur Rab held a meeting on formation of an alternative alliance.
The next day, Ershad announced that his party would declare the new alliance “to save the people from the hands of the two parties within one or two days.”
But Ershad changed his mind and announced his intention to participate in the election and join the Awami League-led polls-time government without consulting any of the leaders he was about to form the alliance.
“We are now planning the new alliance without Jatiya Party chief HM Ershad. He was not consistent in his position and joined the all-party cabinet without thinking of the country’s people,” said Abdul Malek Ratan, general secretary of a faction of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD).
Kader Siddique told the Dhaka Tribune on Wednesday: “On November 14, Ershad wanted to join our alliance. We told him that his party would be included in our alliance after he left the grand alliance. But now Ershad has permanently joined the grand alliance and got seven positions in the government.
“So, there is no question of forming an alliance with Ershad.” He accused Ershad of not keeping his word just as in the past.
On November 16, Jatiya Party Secretary General ABM Ruhul Amin Howlader said Gono Forum President Dr Kamal Hossain would be in the alliance. But, Gono Forum’s Executive President Subrata Chowdhury told the Dhaka Tribune: “Possibilities of joining HM Ershad-led alliance are very slim.”
When contacted, Ruhul Amin on Wednesday said: “Now we are not busy forming any new alliance.”
The party’s youth front Jatiya Jubo Sanghati President Rezaul Islam Bhuiyan said: “Our plan to form an alliance no more exists.”
Bikalpadhara Bangladesh chief Badruddoza Chowdhury told the Dhaka Tribune: “Ershad is not a part of our alliance. We are planning to make the new alliance without him.”