Rebels of 20-party alliance plan new platform

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Staff Reporter :
Some factions of the BNP-led 20-party alliance, who were expelled from the alliance, are now preparing to float a new political platform.
Sheikh Shawkat Hossain Nilu, Chairman of an ousted faction of National People’s Party (NPP) hinted this at a press conference at a hotel in the city on Sunday.
He said, the new coalition will be formally launched under his leadership by the mid-September this year. He also announced of cutting all ties with the BNP-led 20-party alliance.
Earlier, the BNP-led alliance announced that
Nilu is not with them. He has been expelled from the alliance.
Nilu said that BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia can’t expel him as he is the chairman of an independent political party. “Khaleda Zia has expelled him as she is disappointed for her political failures,” he claimed.  
The NPP leader alleged that Khaleda Zia had expelled him from the BNP-led alliance for attending an Iftar party hosted by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
“I did not leave the alliance at that time. I had joined the Iftar party as gesture of political goodwill. It was my right decision,” he said.
On July 17, Sheikh Hasina hosted an Iftar party for the honour of the political leaders. BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia was also invited in that programme.
Nilu criticised the BNP chief and the then 18-party alliance for boycotting the January 5 election. He believes that the alliance could win at least 200 seats if they would join the election. It was a wrong decision of the alliance, he said.
Leaders of some other factions, who are expected to join the proposed alliance, also attended the press conference. The factions are Muslim League, NAP Bhashani and Bangladesh Kalyan Party.
Earlier, President of Muslim League AHM Quamruzzaman Khan had expelled party secretary general Atiqul Islam, Maj Gen (retd) Syed Muhammad Ibrahim Birpratik expelled his secretary general Abdul Malek, while Chairman of NAP Bhashani Sheikh Anwarul Haque was expelled by his party.  
Meanwhile, the name of the new alliance will be selected from among the two-Democratic Nationalist Alliance (DNA) and Democratic Nationalist Front (DNF).
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