by Partha Pratim Bhattacharjee in The Daily Star, Jul 20, 2023
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has hinted that there will soon be a new political alliance and it will take to the streets in support of the government, according to sources familiar with the development.

Certain parties that believe in the spirit of the Liberation War and have shown interest in joining the Awami League-led 14-party alliance, will be in the new alliance.

But the current alliance will not be expanded, because most of the AL’s partners are against expansion, the sources added.

The decisions were made at a meeting of the 14-party alliance at the Gono Bhaban last night. It was Hasina’s second meeting with the alliance leaders since the AL formed the government in 2019 for a third consecutive term.

It was also decided last night that the AL will participate in the next national election under the banner of the 14-party alliance.

Hasina, president of the AL, directed AL General Secretary Obaidul Quader and alliance Coordinator Amir Hossain Amu to coordinate with the political parties that are interested in joining the 14-party alliance.

She said she would not go beyond the constitution to hold the polls and would not bow to anyone whatever pressure may be.

The election will be held on time, she told the meeting.

The government will be firm when it comes to the interest of the country and its people, Hasina told the meeting.

The foreign pressure on the country has little to do with democracy or human rights. Rather, the pressure is about defence purchases and the economy, the PM said.

Regarding the pressure her government has been facing, she said different countries want to sell different things to Bangladesh. The government will purchase what is needed for the country, she continued.

But Bangladesh will not buy anything from a country that imposes sanctions against it, she told the meeting.

However, Bangladesh will keep relations with all foreign friends and take their suggestions into account, she said.

At the beginning of the meeting, Workers Party President Rashed Khan Menon, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal President Hasanul Haq Inu, Bangladesh Tariqat Federation Chairman Syed Nazibul Bashar Maizbhandari, Jatiya Party (JP-Manju) General Secretary Sheikh Shahidul Islam heavily criticised the government for the rising prices of essentials, corruption and syndication of traders of essentials.

As they urged the PM to address the problems, she said the government was taking initiatives to bring down the prices.

The alliance partners also requested Hasina to settle the election related issues with the alliance by October, said the sources.

They also said they will provide the AL with a list of their probable nominees and the desired constituencies. The AL chief will then decide which constituencies to give to the partners.

They then requested Hasina not to announce names of Awami League candidates to run for those constituencies, sources said.

At the meeting, Nazibul Bashar Maizbhandari criticised the BNP and Jamaat, saying that the parties are conspiring against Hasina.

The conspiracy is not only to resist the election, it will also continue even after the election, slated to be held next January.

Maizbhandari also said Jamaat has a plan to conduct subversive activities to foil the national polls.

Jamaat has a plan to conduct subversive activities to foil the national polls and to launch a campaign about “judicial killings” which will refer to the execution of Jamaat leaders following the war crimes trial, Maizbhandari also said.

Most of the partners then requested Hasina to hold the election as per the constitution regardless of BNP’s participation.

Rashed Khan Menon then blasted the visiting European Union delegation for meeting the Jamaat and Amar Bangladesh (AB) since these parties don’t believe in Bangladesh.

The meeting also decided that all partners of the 14-party alliance would take to the streets from September. https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/politics/news/al-plans-new-alliance-3373806