Dhaka – Jatiya Party chairman HM Ershad has finally cobbled together a new alliance of 58 political parties with himself at the helm.
The alliance is going to be the biggest coalition of parties in Bangladesh in terms of numbers of parties of which only two are registered with Election Commission (EC).The former president announced the new political alliance namely Sommilito Jatiya Jote (United National Alliance) through a press conference at Jatiya Press Club on Sunday.
The 58-party UNA is formed comprising two political parties–Jatiya Party and Bangladesh Islami Front and two alliances—Jatiya Islami Mohajote consisting 34 small parties and Bangladesh Jatiya Jote of 22 small parties.
Jatiya Party secretary general ABM Ruhul Amin Howlader will act as the spokesperson of the alliance.
The ruling Awami League leads a 14-party alliance while its arch rival BNP leads 20-party alliance.
Speaking at the press conference, the former army chief said it is difficult to speculate as to what would happen in future as there is no final word in politics.
He said his alliance would take part in the next general polls and accept the results whatever that would be.
“We have formed that alliance aiming at taking part in all the elections including the national polls and building a prosperous Bangladesh by establishing peace and discipline in he country and justice in the society,” he said.
Ershad said the alliance would remain intake and its partners stand beside each other in times of need.
He further said the alliance would work to restore Islamic values and establish a modern Bangladesh by establishing fundamental rights of the people and economic emancipation.
“We will ensure religious rights. We will neither hurt any religion nor allow anyone to do it,” he added.
The JP chairman said they would belong sprit of independence and Islamic values and they are the followers, standard bearers of ideology Bangladeshi nationalism.
“There will be no space for anti-liberation forces,” he said
Replying to a question, he said the ruling party led alliance turned into a grand alliance with joining the JP in it.
But we have left the alliance and now we are in parliament as the opposition party, he said.
Ershad claimed that had also met two new registered political parties and they want to join the new alliance. He however did not disclose the names of the parties.
Jatiya Party chairman HM Ershad, Islami Front chairman MA Mannan, Jatiya Islami Mohajote chairman Abu Naser Wahed and BNA chaiman Sekander Ali signed the declaration of the new alliance.
JP vice chairman GM Quader and secretary general Ruhul Amin Howlader, among others, were present at the press conference. – Staff Reporter
