Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has welcomed the move of Gono Forum President Dr Kamal Hossain and Bikalpadhara Bangladesh President Prof AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury and others to form an alliance.
The prime minister on Sunday said it will give the anti-Awami League people a new platform to stand on.
She said: “I welcome their alliance. Let unity prevail... this is good. This will be a great relief for the anti-AL people.”
The Prime Minister further said: "There are two parties in Bangladesh -- Awami League and anti-Awami League. The anti-Awami League people will have to go somewhere."
The prime minister was addressing a press conference arranged at her official residence Ganabhaban to brief the media about the outcome of her just-concluded visit to Nepal to attend the 4th Bimstec summit.
Recently, Dr Kamal, B Chowdhury, Mahmudur Rahman Manna, ASM Abdur Rob and Kader Siddique agreed to forge a national unity, ahead of the general election.
Sheikh Hasina, also the Awami League chief, said the new alliance will be a good one at least. "We'll contest the election. I hope they'll also take part in the polls," she added.
She said there should be an alternative in the country. "I convey my good wishes to them," the prime minister said.
Replying to a query, whether Dr Kamal Hossain and his associates really want the election, she said: "There's a section of people in Bangladesh who always sit there thinking that if there's any unconstitutional and unelected government, they'll get the flag... they'll get some importance."
Referring to Dr Kamal's recent remarks that there will be no election in the country, she said it means they are waiting for this. Sheikh Hasina said: "If anything happens in our country, all look at Uttarpara. This is reality. Anything might happen. My father was killed and there were attempts to kill me in broad daylight."
The Awami League chief said:“Dr Kamal and his 'companies' do not want healthy democracy. They cry for democracy only, but want to get to power by an undemocratic way."
She also said a section of political parties wants to cash in on any sort of movement, even a non-political one. "I will watch the movement first and let it advance. If I see any other party trying to capitalize on it, I will separate the movement and the vested party stumbles to the ground,"she said.
