Special Correspondent :
The Jatiya Party, a partner of ruling Awami League government as well as main opposition in the Parliament, has taken initiatives to form a new political alliance with a view to appearing as a dominating factor in the upcoming national elections scheduled in 2019.
Sources close to the JP told The New Nation on Wednesday that the party is trying to sign a MoU [memorandum of understanding] about the formation of new alliance within next seven to eight days. The new alliance would be formally launched in the last week of current month or first week of next month.
Insiders said, the JP has taken strategy to involve mainly the pro-BNP and Islamist parties apparently to weaken the BNP-led 20-party alliance ahead of next general elections. At the same time, it is also keeping close touch with the left-leaning and other democratic political parties for the same reason.
JP presidium member and chairman’s political and press secretary Sunil Shuvo Roy has been playing the role of chief coordinator to formulate the alliance. In accordance with the policy, the JP leaders sat in meeting with Labour Party leaders to exchange views at a Baridhara residence in the city yesterday [Wednesday].
Earlier in the last four to five days, the party has arranged meetings at least with 15/16 political parties at Banani party office to discuss the formulation of the alliance, where party chairman Hussein Muhammad Ershad was present, the insiders said.
When contacted, secretary general of JP Ruhul Amin Hawlader told The New Nation last night: “We are holding meetings with Islamist as well non-Islamist parties to form a powerful alliance. We’ll sign a MoU with the parties those will stay at the final stage considering the policy unanimously. They’re expected to sign the deal within eight to ten days. Final announcement will come last week of March or first week of April.”
Answering to another question, he said: “A number of BNP leaders of district and upazila level have expressed their interest to join the new alliance. Though no central leader has responded, the situation may change in the near future…..I can’t disclose many things at this moment.”
The JP has held meetings with Bangladesh Labour Party, Amjanata Party, Ganotantrik National Awami Party, Awami Party, Bangladesh National Democratic Party, Bangladesh Ganotantrik Andolan, Islamic Democratic Party, Krishak Sramik Party, United Muslim League, Gano Odhikar Party, Tafshil Federation, Jatiya Hindu League, Sacheton Hindu Party, Bangladesh People’s Democratic Party and Islami Gano Andolon, party sources said.
“Leaders of different political parties have sat in meetings with party chairman HM Ershad. Many of them have expressed their desire to join the new alliance…We’re holding meetings to attract some parties from the two major alliances,” Sunil Shuvo Roy said recently.
It is to be noted that JP was a component of Awami League-led 15-party grand alliance during national elections in 2008. But in 2014 election, the JP fielded 80 candidates under its own banner. Before that, the JP had formed an alliance named Islami Oikya Front with the help of some Islamist political parties.
At present, the number of JP lawmakers in the Parliament is 40, while the number was 28 in the ninth Parliament. JP wants to field candidates in all 350 constituencies in the next election.
The Jatiya Party, a partner of ruling Awami League government as well as main opposition in the Parliament, has taken initiatives to form a new political alliance with a view to appearing as a dominating factor in the upcoming national elections scheduled in 2019.
Sources close to the JP told The New Nation on Wednesday that the party is trying to sign a MoU [memorandum of understanding] about the formation of new alliance within next seven to eight days. The new alliance would be formally launched in the last week of current month or first week of next month.
Insiders said, the JP has taken strategy to involve mainly the pro-BNP and Islamist parties apparently to weaken the BNP-led 20-party alliance ahead of next general elections. At the same time, it is also keeping close touch with the left-leaning and other democratic political parties for the same reason.
JP presidium member and chairman’s political and press secretary Sunil Shuvo Roy has been playing the role of chief coordinator to formulate the alliance. In accordance with the policy, the JP leaders sat in meeting with Labour Party leaders to exchange views at a Baridhara residence in the city yesterday [Wednesday].
Earlier in the last four to five days, the party has arranged meetings at least with 15/16 political parties at Banani party office to discuss the formulation of the alliance, where party chairman Hussein Muhammad Ershad was present, the insiders said.
When contacted, secretary general of JP Ruhul Amin Hawlader told The New Nation last night: “We are holding meetings with Islamist as well non-Islamist parties to form a powerful alliance. We’ll sign a MoU with the parties those will stay at the final stage considering the policy unanimously. They’re expected to sign the deal within eight to ten days. Final announcement will come last week of March or first week of April.”
Answering to another question, he said: “A number of BNP leaders of district and upazila level have expressed their interest to join the new alliance. Though no central leader has responded, the situation may change in the near future…..I can’t disclose many things at this moment.”
The JP has held meetings with Bangladesh Labour Party, Amjanata Party, Ganotantrik National Awami Party, Awami Party, Bangladesh National Democratic Party, Bangladesh Ganotantrik Andolan, Islamic Democratic Party, Krishak Sramik Party, United Muslim League, Gano Odhikar Party, Tafshil Federation, Jatiya Hindu League, Sacheton Hindu Party, Bangladesh People’s Democratic Party and Islami Gano Andolon, party sources said.
“Leaders of different political parties have sat in meetings with party chairman HM Ershad. Many of them have expressed their desire to join the new alliance…We’re holding meetings to attract some parties from the two major alliances,” Sunil Shuvo Roy said recently.
It is to be noted that JP was a component of Awami League-led 15-party grand alliance during national elections in 2008. But in 2014 election, the JP fielded 80 candidates under its own banner. Before that, the JP had formed an alliance named Islami Oikya Front with the help of some Islamist political parties.
At present, the number of JP lawmakers in the Parliament is 40, while the number was 28 in the ninth Parliament. JP wants to field candidates in all 350 constituencies in the next election.
