The ruling party is hopeful of victory regardless of the BNP’s participation due to its strong belief that the development work done during its tenure particularly in rural areas will convince people to vote for the symbol boat.
Previously, the ruling party was not concerned over whether its arch-rival BNP is contesting the upcoming general elections or not but the situation has now changed as prominent politicians apart from forming alliance are also trying to form national unity with BNP and its political partners sans Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh.
The ruling Awami League has publicly welcomed the national unity initiatives by Prof. Badruddoza Chowdhury and Dr. Kamal Hossain, but privately AL leaders are feeling uneasy considering that BNP may get an opportunity due to forming of national unity.
Prominent politicians Kamal Hossain, Badruddoza Chowdhury, Manna and ASM Abdur Rab from several small parties have been trying to form national unity along with anti-Awami League forces for years.
According to Awami League sources, if BNP forms the alliance with Juktofront and Dr Kamal Hossain it will get a chance to reorganize again, which is a headache for ruling party and its alliance.
The AL leaders believe that the organizational structure of BNP has broken down and it has no structure to hold any movement. Even BNP has been suffering from leadership crisis for years due to absence of Tarique Rahman and Khaleda Zia.
Talking with the Dhaka Tribune several senior leaders of Awami League said that they are watching the alliance formation initiatives very carefully.
They also warned that the ruling party will never allow anyone to plot conspiracy against country and democracy in the name of forming alliance.
Prime Minister and Awami League president Sheikh Hasina on Saturday welcomed Juktofront and Dr Kamal Hossain’s initiatives to form national unite along with BNP and anti-Awami League forces.
Sheikh Hasina said: “I welcome them. They do politics but if they will try to do anything wrong then their dreams will not be fulfilled.”
Even the premier said that she will talk to Dhaka Metropolitan Police to give Dr Kamal Hossain permission to arrange meeting at Suhrawardy Udyan.
Like Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Awami League general secretary also welcomed the alliance formation initiatives.
Obaidul Quader on Sunday said that Awami League is ready to welcome new political alliance saying that “forming alliance is a part of democracy. There is no problem with forming new alliances and participating in the election.”
However, some Awami League leaders downplayed any possibility of alliance formation claiming that anti-government forces cannot form alliance due to their personal problems and they have no political ground to form the alliance.
Awami League Publicity and Publication secretary Hasan Mahmud said that Dr Kamal Hossain, Badruddoza Chowdhury, Manna and ASM Abdur Rab were politically destitute and they would never succeed in forming the coalition.
“They have no popularity among voters and all of them will lose their security money if they participate in election,” said Hasan Mahmud.
Recently Dr Kamal Hossain and Juktofront leaders decided to work together on basis of 5-point target and 9-point demands.
Their demands include dissolving parliament before the announcement of the national election schedule and forming an election-time impartial government in consultation with all the political parties; reconstituting the Election Commission with acceptable persons to ensure a free, fair and neutral election; ensuring all political parties' freedom of speech and association; withdrawing the 'false' cases filed against leaders and activists of all the political parties and students who waged the 'quota reform' and 'safe road' movements’; and releasing the political prisoners and not arresting any political leaders and activists until the election is over.
They also demanded deployment of army with magistracy power 30 days before the election and cancellation of the government's plan of using EVM in the elections and amendment to the Representation of the People Order (RPO) 1972, to create a level-playing field for all the political parties.
Their nine targets include ensuring a balance between the power of president and the Prime Minister, empowering people, ensuring the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary, reforming the Anti-Corruption Commission to strongly cheek corruption and establishing a positive and balanced politics.
