AL-led grand alliance meets today after 20 months

After a pause of about 20 months, Awami League (AL)-led grand electoral alliance is about to be resurrected again, as its key leaders are scheduled to meet for iftar today, ahead of the parliamentary election scheduled for December 18.
Leaders of the components of AL-led 14-party coalition, and of Jatiya Party (JP-Ershad), Bikalpadhara Bangladesh (BDB), Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Jatiya Party (JP-Manju), the Communist Party of Bangladesh, Misbaur Rahman led Islami Oikya Jote (IOJ), Zaker Party, and of some other parties which had not been in the grand alliance earlier, have been invited to the iftar in a community centre in the capital.
AL-led grand alliance was formed ahead of the stalled January 22, 2007 election to compete against BNP-Jamaat led four-party alliance.
"Other than the components of BNP-Jamaat led alliance we have invited all political parties, and they all have accepted the invitation," AL Presidium Member Motia Chowdhury said yesterday.
As preparations for the election have started with the announcement of the specific date for the national election, there can be some informal talks among the grand alliance leaders, Motia told The Daily Star.
She said the final steps for reawakening the grand alliance will start as soon as AL President Sheikh Hasina returns home from abroad.
Most of the senior AL leaders will attend the iftar this evening. Sources said the outcome of the primary conversations among the invited party leaders will be conveyed to Hasina.
Talking to The Daily Star, sources in the grand alliance said their parties feel as the national election is approaching, there should be some primary discussions for jump-starting the activities of the grand electoral alliance.
Meanwhile, some of the grand alliance leaders already talked to Sheikh Hasina about seat sharing, the sources said adding that this time around the resurgent electoral alliance will pay more attention to policies instead of only sharing of seats.
JP Acting Chairman Barrister Anisul Islam Mahmud told The Daily Star that their Chairman HM Ershad will also attend the iftar.
He said their party wants the grand alliance to become alive again based on policy negotiations.
There should be concrete policies of the alliance regarding the anti-corruption drive, reforms in government administration, strengthening of the judiciary, economic development, health, and education, among other key national issues, he said.
The JP leader also said they will seek around 60 seats, including all seats in greater Rangpur, for 'good candidates' this year.
In the meantime, AL Acting President Zillur Rahman and Acting General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam said their party will contest in the parliamentary poll under the banner of grand alliance.
A few new parties will be included in the alliance while at least one is likely to be kicked out, sources said.
Sources said although AL had given up a total of 96 seats for its alliance partners before the January 22, 2007 election was postponed, this time around it might reduce the number of seats it shares with them.
Earlier, AL gave 50 seats to JP, 29 to LDP, four each to Workers Party and Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, three to Gono Forum, one to Gonotontri Party, and five to Islamist political parties Misbaur-led IOJ, Zaker Party, and Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish.
Talking to The Daily Star, some of the grand alliance leaders said they do not want the number of seats that had been allocated for them earlier to be reduced.
Sources said AL might not give all the seats in the greater Rangpur area to Ershad's JP due to grassroots level AL leaders' opposition.
AL Organising Secretary Mahmudur Rahman Manna who is in charge of looking after party activities in the area said this time around their position in the area is better than any time before.
Pointing out that there are 22 constituencies in the greater Rangpur area, he said some AL candidates should contest for some of those seats as they have strong local support.
The sources said the seat sharing issue will be finalised in consultation with Hasina after her return home.
In the meantime, AL organising secretaries have been carrying out a survey to see who has the most popularity and possibilities of winning in different parliamentary constituencies across the country.
"I am carrying out a survey. Our party chief Sheikh Hasina asked me do so," said Manna adding that the outcome of the survey will be submitted to Hasina.