Staff Reporter

A sense of mental distance has developed among BNP, its allies and some other opposition parties over their national government theory.

Insiders say that the relations among them might deteriorate further ahead of the next general election.

Although BNP declared that the party has plan to form a national government with other political parties if voted to power in the next, some of its allies and other parties raised the issue of forming a national government before the polls.

The difference of opinion has been evident finally as seven opposition political parties, including some components of Jatiya Oikya Front, held a meeting on Thursday to forge a separate opposition political coalition outside the BNP.

“There will be no conflict between BNP and the other parties as they have also same view that election will not be held fair under the Awami League-led government,” BNP standing committee member Iqbal Hassan Mahmud Tuku told the Daily Sun.

Claiming that their process to forge greater political unity is going on, the BNP leader further said the move to form a separate opposition platform is positive.

“We can go for simultaneous movement in same issue,” he added.

Sensing the move to forge a separate opposition platform, with the directive of BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman, BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir recently declared that they would form a national government if voted to power in the next.

On the other hand, some other opposition political parties, including ASM Abdur Rob of Jatiya Samatantrik Dal (JSD), raised voice for formation of interim national government ahead of the next national polls.
Around 15 opposition political parties, including JSD of ASM Abdur Rob, Nagorik Oikya of Mahmudur Rahman Manna, Ganosamhati Andolan of Zonayed Saki, Revolutionary Workers Party of Bangladesh, Bhashani Onushari Parishad and Gana Odhikar Parishad of Reza Kibria-Nurul Haque Nur have also started a process to forge a separate political coalition with some demands, including the national government.

At one stage, seven opposition political parties, including the JSD, Nagorik OIkya, Revolutionary Workers Party of Bangladesh, Gana Odhikar Parishad and Bhashani Onushari Parishad, held a meeting at the Gana Shasthya Kendra of Jafrullah Chowdhury in the capital on Thursday for forging the platform.

“We, top leaders of seven political parties, held the meeting yesterday (Thursday) and discussed some issues, including forging a common platform, waging movement and a national government. We will again hold a meeting with more parties on May 8,” Saiful Huq, general secretary of Revolutionary Workers Party of Bangladesh, told the Daily Sun.

He said in their meeting they agreed about five agendas - no election can be held free and fair under the current the Awami League-led government, this government will have to be compelled to resign through movement, formula will be given about formation of interim government which will work after resignation of the incumbent government, some articles, including Article 70 of the constitution, will have to be amended and the movement will not be waged to bring any particular party to power but for establishing permanent democratic system in the country.

Asked whether there is any different of opinion with the BNP about the interim government, Saiful Huq said there are some similarity and some difference of opinion in their interim government formula.

Gono Odikhar Parishad member secretary Nurul haque Nur in a facebook live on Friday said seven parties and personalities discussed the move to forge a greater political unity.

“We can wage movement under a common banner or may go for simultaneous movement.”

Talking to reporters, Reza Kibria said they have some basic differences with BNP as the major opposition so far wants an election immediately, but others want an interim government for at least two years before the next election.

Sources inside the opposition parties said the parties are moving to form a separate alliance or political coalition outside the BNP to become an alternative political force in the country’s political arena which may go for strong bargaining with both Awami League and BNP ahead of the next national election over sharing seats and other issues.

On the other hand, talking to the Daily Sun, some BNP leaders said the party high command keeps watching closely and cautiously on the initiative of forging separate political platform by the opposition parties.

They also think that if the BNP can’t bring the comparatively small political parties under their political platform or failed to forge greater unity then it may be difficult for the major opposition to wage any strong movement they are planning to wage in the next, they added.