12 parties forge new alliance

Twelve political parties of the BNP-led 20-party combine have formed a new alliance to conduct a movement alongside the BNP and realise the 10-point demand that include national polls under a caretaker government.

Mostafa Jamal Haidar, chairman of a faction of Jatiya Party (Kazi Zafar), made the declaration during a press briefing at the Jatiya Press Club yesterday.

The announcement comes after the silent dissolution of the 20-party alliance.

"Our understanding and unity with the biggest opposition party of the country, BNP, will remain the same as before. We are moving forward with the new strategy to build a greater unity with the participation of the political parties that are against this fascist government," Mostafa said.

He also said there was no scope for misunderstandings and "we all move together on the path of simultaneous movement".

The partners of the new alliance are: Jatiya Party (Kazi Zafar), Bangladesh Kalyan Party, Bangladesh Labour Party, Bangladesh Jatiya Dal, NDP, Bangladesh Liberal Democratic Party, Bangladesh Muslim League, Jamiyet Ulamaye Islam, Islami Oikya Jote, Jagpa, Islamic Party, and Bangladesher Samyabadi Dal.

Of these, only Bangladesh Kalyan Party and Bangladesh Muslim League are registered with the Election Commission.

Kalyan Party Chairman Syed Muhammad Ibrahim said before the disband, the 20-party alliance held its last meeting at the BNP chairperson's office on December 9 where the leaders decided not to use the 20-party combine  name.

"But you can move forward after discussing amongst yourselves," he quoted a BNP leader as saying to them in that meeting.

"After such a statement, the 20-party alliance no longer exists. In fact, 10 days before that, the BNP secretary general told the media that 20-party alliance exists no more," he said.

Ibrahim said the 20-party alliance came into being on April 18, 2012, through a formal press conference and its dissolution was informal.

He said the BNP was the main guardian of the alliance. "Today our efforts are to support the BNP's 10-point demand and 27-point state reform proposals."

He said the new alliance was planning to go to the divisional cities after December 30, but a decision in this regard was yet to be made.

"We will join all programmes of the BNP as part of the simultaneous movement. We will bring out mass processions on December 30. We will gather in the Bijoy Nagar area around 2:00pm," he added.

Labour Party Chairman Mostafizur Rahman read out the declaration paper of the 12-party alliance.

"We have decided to participate in the ongoing anti-government movement to restore democracy and people's voting rights, and we will be recognised as 12-party alliance," said Mostafizur.