Krishak Sramik Janata League may quit Jatiya Oikyafront today
RAFIQUL ISLAM AZAD, Dhaka
Bangabir Kader Siddique-led Bangladesh Krishak Sramik Janata League (BKSJL) is likely to quit the Opposition alliance Jatiya Oikyafront barely nine months after its formation, because of what its leaders described as the alliance leaders failure to remove inconsistencies in its decisions.
BKSJL president Bangabir Kader Siddique, Bir Bikram, is likely to announce the partys snapping of ties with the alliance at a press conference, slated to be held at Jatiya Press Club at 11am today, said party sources.
According to a resolution of the partys extended meeting, held on Saturday in Motijheel, most of the central leaders are in favour of quitting the Dr Kamal Hossain-led five-party alliance, which was formed ahead of the December 30 parliamentary polls. A total of 37 central leaders were present at the meeting, the sources added.
There is high chance of us leaving the Oikyafront as the majority of party leaders are in favour of giving up ties with the alliance. There is pressure from the leaders, said BKSJL joint secretary Billal Siddique.
He, however, said the decision will be finalised at a central committee meeting before the press conference, scheduled to be held at Jatiya Press Club today (Monday).
Mahmudur Rahman Manna, a top leader of the alliance, said he would be grateful if Kader Siddique-led Krishak Sramik Janata League does not leave the alliance.
There are points behind the allegations brought by Kader Siddique. But unfortunately we could not sit together over a long period of time to sort it out, he said.
Manna, who is also the convenor of Nagorik Oikya, said it is very regrettable that we failed to take up any programme within the last six months. He, however, said that he wants the party (BKSJL) to remain in the fold of Oikyafront for the sake of democracy.
Asked about the approaching date of Kader Siddiques ultimatum to leave the alliance, BNP secretary-general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said, He (Kader Siddique) will take his decision. And we will look after our end.
A central BKSJL leader alleged that the last meeting of Oikyafront was held at JSD president ASM Rabs Uttara residence on June 10, where the top leaders sought time from Kader Siddique, promising to resolve the discrepancies shortly. The meeting was adjourned.
However, no further meeting of the Oikyafront was held in the meantime, and the BKSJL ultimatum was not ultimately accepted, he said.
Earlier, on May 9, Kader Siddique gave an ultimatum that his party would leave the Oikyafront by June 8, if the inconsistency in the alliances decision over the boycott of Parliament by the alliances MPs-elect was not resolved.
His ultimatum came as BNP and Ganoforum lawmakers-elect joined Parliament in violation of the alliances decision to not take oath and join Parliament. The BKSJL also questioned the silence of the alliance and failure to take up any programme after the elections.
The Oikyafront alleged that the election was manipulated as they managed to win only eight seatsthe BNP six and Ganoforum twoin the 300 constituencies that went to polls.
The Jatiya Oikyafront, an anti-Awami League (AL) political alliance led by Dr Kamal Hossain, was formed on October 13, 2018, just ahead of the 11th parliamentary polls.
