Split in small parties weakens 20-party
Yet another component of the BNP-led alliance yesterday threatened to part itself from the combine, turning things worse for the BNP policymakers already-worried of its waning strength.
A faction of the National Democratic Party (NDP) said they would quit the alliance if BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia in 72 hours does not ensure "more democratic practices" in the coalition.
Insiders, however, said the faction led by Alamgir Mazumder had already made up its mind to split and the ultimatum was only a pretext.
The fresh discord came hot on the heels of factions of three other components -- National Awami Party (Bhasani), Muslim League and National People's Party -- leaving the 20-party alliance in the last few months.
The NDP threat prompted BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir to convene an emergency meeting at the party's Naya Paltan central office in the afternoon. There he had the secretary generals of allied parties to pledge that they would stay with the combine.
“During the meeting, Fakhrul Islam Alamgir wanted to know if any of the component parties had any discontent,” said the secretary general of a party in the alliance.
Fakhrul also called upon the alliance leaders not to allow themselves to be swayed by any quarters, added the leader who attended the meeting.
The components are falling apart at a time when the BNP-led combine is preparing to wage an anti-government, first since its utter failure in resisting the January 5 election boycotted by the alliance.
BNP policymakers, however, blame the government for the intra-alliance friction.
To foil the combine's planned movement, the government with the help of intelligence agencies is trying to create a rift among the top alliance leaders, they alleged.
But some insiders said there indeed are some "issues" that are making the small partners in the alliance aggrieved.
BNP's negligence towards others, taking decision arbitrarily, failure in the previous anti-government movement, lack of coordination in the alliance and frustration over the slow progress of the planned movement are causing fissures inside the combine, according to the sources.
Some Islamic parties in the alliance are also dissatisfied at the inclusion of a faction of Shamyabadi Dal, a left leaning party, in the coalition.
A number of alliance leaders told The Daily Star over the past few months that "lucrative offers" from the government side had been made to them for quitting the BNP-led camp.
Yesterday, leader of the NDP faction Alamgir Mazumder demanded that Khaleda announce movement on pro-people issues, clear BNP's stance on religion-based politics and the unsettled disputes with India, and mount pressure on India to resolve water-sharing issue.
“Otherwise, the NDP will quit the BNP-led alliance,” he said at a press conference at a city hotel yesterday.
Alamgir, who was NDP's secretary general, also claimed the party presidium members on September 12 expelled NDP chairman Golam Mortaza, and made him acting chairman and Ali Nur Rahman acting secretary general.
Contacted, Golam Mortaza rejected the claim and said it's actually Alamgir who had been expelled from the NDP on Friday night for his anti-party activities.
"The NDP is with the 20-party alliance and will be so in the days ahead," he asserted.
Comments