BNP is in a dilemma over forming any alliance with HM Ershad-led Jatiya Party as they said the former military ruler was very “unpredictable” and might cause more damage to, as opposed to strengthening, the opposition alliance.
Many BNP leaders said party chief Khaleda Zia has expressed her reservations about Jatiya Party to her senior colleagues, terming HM Ershad “highly unpredictable.”
Hence the party is now thinking of foregoing any official electoral alliance with the Jatiya Party, a key member of the Awami League-led grand alliance; instead, it is considering just bringing the party into its anti-government movement.
Senior BNP leaders seeking anonymity told the Dhaka Tribune that Jatiya Party would not be of any help to BNP, but would rather create a division in the party, since if it was to be included in the alliance, the BNP would have to give up some parliamentary seats where its own candidates would be strong enough to compete in the polls.
Goyeshwar Chandra Roy, a standing committee member of the party, said: “We would not express our reservation if any evil wants to participate in the on-going anti-government movement. But we have to carefully consider whether we will form any coalition with this culprit because this evil will betray us — it is natural.”
“Ershad is not in madam’s confidence and madam cannot trust him. Ershad changes his stance every now and then. So it would not be wise to believe him,” another standing committee member of the party told the Dhaka Tribune preferring not to be named.
Khaleda expressed her reservation about Jatiya Party in discussions with senior party leaders and most of the senior leaders agreed with the party chief’s opinion.
They also advised her not to form any alliance with Ershad, but rather to incorporate Jatiya Party in BNP’s anti-government movement.
“We want to form a greater unity based on a one-point demand. Everyone can take part in that. We also urge the Jatiya Party to take part,” BNP Vice Chairman Abdullah Al-Noman told the Dhaka Tribune.
When asked about forming an electoral alliance, Noman said: “It is too early to make any comment on that.”
Ershad had bargaining capacity with the BNP till he extended his support to the Awami league-backed candidate in the Gazipur city polls. Before he expressed his support, both the mayoral candidates met Ershad and he remained silent on extending support. Then he extended support to the AL-backed candidate at the last moment, while the local unit of Jatiya Party worked for the BNP-backed candidate.
Since then, Ershad has faced huge pressure within his party to back the AL candidate. Khaleda Zia has expressed resentment over the incident. Many senior BNP leaders expressed dissatisfaction on that night and advised the chairperson not to show interest in him.
Recently many of the senior leaders talked with the party chairperson about Jatiya Party and Khaleda Zia expressed her reservation to them but asked them not to show any negative attitude for strategic reasons.
Many BNP leaders think that if free and fair elections are held, BNP will form the government. If Ershad enters the alliance it will be of no benefit to BNP, but Jatiya Party will stand to gain a lot.
“If Jatiya Party contests the election with the grand alliance, they will not get more than 15 seats and if it contests alone it will get not more than 10 seats. So why should we bother,” a senior leader said.
Some BNP leaders are close to Jatiya Party presidium member Kazi Jafar Ahmed and are interested to bring Jatiya Party into the alliance.
A senior leader of the party who maintains good ties with Jatiya Party said 38 senior leaders of Jatiya Party, led by Kazi Jafar, are eager to join the BNP led 18-party alliance and are putting pressure on Ershad to form an alliance, but Ershad is yet to make his position clear.
Many BNP leaders on the other hand, think that if Ershad enters the alliance, BNP would have to sacrifice at least 30 seats which will create grievances among party leaders.
