Three political parties – Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh (BDB), Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) and Bangladesh Krishak Sramik Janata League (BKSJL) – yesterday joined forces to launch the National Democratic Front (NDF). “The immediate cause of formation of the alliance was to prevent the government’s move to hold lopsided polls with a view to establishing a one-party government,” an NDF leader said during the front’s launch function at National Press Club. “We will lend moral support to the 18-Party Alliance’s ‘March for democracy’ if it’s held without violence. We, however, won’t be involved in the programme,” he added.
JSD general secretary Abdul Malek Raton read out a seven-point programme, detailing the policies of NDF. These include bringing meaningful and qualitative changes in politics, rejecting any political programme that hampered livelihood of the people, cancelling of 15th amendment to the Constitution, decentralisation of power, formation of a bicameral legislature and ensuring a permanent solution to the vexed issue of election-time administration.
The front also announced that no one will be allowed to hold the Prime Minister’s office for more than two terms, separate persons to hold the posts of the head of the state and a party chief, and to balance power between the President and the PM.
Addressing the launching ceremony, BDB president Prof AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury explained that the new front will function outside the two major alliances to lead the country on the path of development based on its common minimum programme. He called upon like-minded parties, organisations and individuals to join them.
The former President said every country in the world except one has taken stand against the government’s attempt to hold “lopsided election” on January 5. He also expressed apprehension that no opposition party will remain to raise a voice against government injustice and misdeeds if the Awami League continued its rule for five more years.
Referring to the civil war in South Sudan and interference of a neighbouring country, he questioned whether the country’s independence and sovereignty would not be at stake if international peace keeping forces are deployed in the country and the elections are held at the behest of a foreign country.
JSD president ASM Abdur Rob said the country passing through a critical time as the government was pushing the country towards civil war and destroying stability in the country. He said there was no guarantee of natural death as the government has become desperate.
Criticising the arrest senior BNP leaders, he said even a fool would not believe that Moudud, Anwar or Mintoo could torch vehicles and they were implicated in “false cases”.
“Bangladesh will turn into a friendless country, if the prevailing situation continues,” he added. He called upon the government to stop “suicidal politics” and said freedom fighters did not take part in the Liberation War to be turned into toys. “There is still time. Please postpone the election schedule and cancel the Election Commission to overcome the situation,” he added.
Referring to extra judicial killings, the JSD leader said the British government did not carry out such barbaric mass killings. “It appears that the country is being run in the behest of another country and we are living in a country where we have been given asylum,” he added.
BKSJL president Bangabir Kader Siddiqui, Bir Uttam, said the new alliance was formed to free the country from destruction and fulfil the hopes and aspirations of the people by maintaining equal distance from the two alliances.
Terming the election nothing but a selection, he said there is not a single candidate out of the components of the grand alliance.
He called upon people involved in election duty not to go to polling centres.
-With The Independent input
