2 parties 'face pressure to quit' 20-party

The Islami Oikya Jote and the Jomiat-e-Ulamaye Islam, two components of the BNP-led 20-party alliance, are under “huge pressure” from the government to quit the opposition platform, according to their leaders and other sources.

Besides, Bangladesh Khelafat Andolon, a Qawmi madrasa-based organisation which was in the process of joining the 20-party combine, is being asked by the government not to side with the opposition, sources say.

Towards the end of last year, four components -- National Democratic Party, Islamic Party, National Peoples Party and Nap (Bhasani) -- got split over remaining in the alliance.

In a rare instance on Wednesday, Jomiat-e-Ulamaye chief Mufti Mohammad Wakkas and IOJ Chairman Abdul Latif Nejami and Vice-Chairman Abul Hasnet went to the Victory Day reception at the Bangabhaban.

Hasnet is son of late Fazlul Huq Amini, who was a staunch critic of Awami League and secularist policies of the state.

“Even the freedom fighters who belong to opposition combine don't get invitation to the V Day reception. So, Amini's son and his party men being invited to the programme indicate changes in their relations with the 20-party combine,” added an alliance leader. 

The matter was discussed at secretary general-level meeting of the 20-party alliance when Kalyan Party leader Abdul Maleq Chowdhury raised the issue, meeting sources told this correspondent.

In a brief reply, the Jomiat-e-Ulamaye Islam representative, who was present at the meeting, said their leaders visited the Bangabhaban as they were invited.

However, no representative from IOJ attended the meeting, held at the BNP chief's Gulshan office yesterday.

BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, presiding over the meeting, said the IOJ could not attend it because of its own problem. Besides, the Islamist party had a meeting in Mymensingh.

When some alliance leaders asked if the IOJ had any other leader in Dhaka to represent the party at the meeting, Fakhrul couldn't give a reply.

“The BNP secretary general only said what can be done if anyone thinks otherwise?” a meeting source quoted Fakhrul as saying. The discussion did not proceed further, said the source.

A number of IOJ leaders said the government is asking them to change the principals at Lalbagh and Boro Katra madrasas -- the main source of income of the party.

Amini was the principal of Lalbagh madrasa. Now his son-in-law Saiful Islam is its principal while his son Hasnet vice-principal.

“Amini's family and relatives and the IOJ will lose many things if they lose control over the two madrasas. That's why they have no alternative to listening to the government,” said an insider.

The government is also asking Jomiat-e-Ulamaye Islam to change the principal of Jamia Madania, Nur Hossain Kasimi. This madrasa at the city's Baridhara is considered the den of the Islamist party.