The BNP-led 19-party alliance has decided to back single candidate for the upazila polls on the basis of political consensus among its partners.
The central leaders of the alliance will coordinate the elections in 225 upazilas, to be held in two phases – on February 19 and 27, while the senior leaders of divisional and district units will oversee the voting.
The expanded alliance will participate in the upazila elections jointly to grab the maximum number of seats, its leaders said.
The alliance, which turned a group of 19 parties yesterday, is now thinking of appointing a spokesperson to present its voice before the media. The 18-party alliance had no spokesperson.
Expelled Presidium member of HM Ershad-led Jatiya Party, Kazi Zafar yesterday joined the 18-party alliance by presenting a bouquet to BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia at the latter’s Gulshan office in the evening.
Kazi Zafar said: “We have to be united during the present crisis moment. We will remain beside BNP chief Khaleda Zia.” He also said they had to save the party from Ershad’s oscillation and bluff.
After his joining the alliance, the leaders of 19 parties sat in a meeting.
Khaleda said: “Today is a black day for democracy. Today the Awami League has established Baksal [one-party government]...Today we have made our alliance stronger by turning it into a 19-party one. Nineteen is a lucky number. The 19 parties will bring good news for the country.”
She hoped that the people of the country would reward them if they could work properly. “The Awami League is a fascist party. Not democracy, but the party and money are big issues to them.
“Their [AL] main work is to loot the rights of the people. During 1971-75, the party [AL] did not work for the country. They looted and killed people. In the last five years, they looted. Countrymen have become poor. People have learnt that every Awami League leaders became owner of crores of takas,” she claimed.
The three-time former premier quoting news reports said 90% people observed that free and fair election would not be possible under the Awami League government. “The Awami League has become frightened to see these. They have made fun in the name of election. They did not get any party for the poll. One party one leader is what they got. They did not win in any election earlier.
“They are now moving the boat. And the remaining [indicating Ershad] are beneficiary for all the times.” She said Ershad was making confusing statements.
Khaleda said the January 5 election had proved that free and free election could not be possible under AL-led government. People rejected them. “You have seen that people did not go to the polling centres, only some dogs were there.”
She said since the AL had not been elected by the people’s vote, “it cannot be legal in any aspect. It is staying in power through the power of gun. They are in power by frightening people.”
The BNP chief also labelled the joint force’s drives as “oppression.” She alleged that houses were set on fire, and people are being arrested and abducted – some bodies re found while some go missing. “A people’s government cannot do these.”
Blaming the AL for the recent attacks on Hindu people, Khaleda said an international investigation committee needed to be formed, if required to unearth who were actually behind the attacks.
About the anti-government movement of the 18-party alliance, she said: “Maybe, it did not happen during the Liberation War.”
Now 19-party alliance
With Kazi Zafar, JaPa Presidium member Ahsan Habib Linkan also joined the BNP-led alliance.
Kazi Zafar disclosed his move earlier in the afternoon from a press briefing held at his Gulshan residence. The decision was made at an extended meeting of the central committee of his party, which he claims to be the “real Jatiya Party.”
He said the Ershad-led Jatiya Party was actually an “Awami Jatiya Party.”
Ershad had expelled his Presidium member Kazi Zafar on November 28 for differing with his opinion on the JaPa’s involvement in the January 5 poll. Kazi Zafar too later expelled Ershad from the party and announced a special council that made him chairman and Golam Mosih secretary general.
Kazi Zafar’s United Peoples’ Party (UPP) was a part of the BNP-led seven-party alliance when protests had been mounted against Ershad in the early 1980s. But dissolving his own party, he later joined Ershad’s cabinet under martial law regime. He served as commerce minister, deputy prime minister and finally as the prime minister.