Ehsanul Haque Jasim :The BNP is now facing troubled situation as two other partners of the 20-party alliance are now planning to leave the alliance after the Islami Oikya Jote (IOJ). Talking to several alliance leaders, it was known that BNP’s distance with the alliance partners has been created on several issues. The warp and woof situation is increasing day by day. Leaders of some partners said the BNP ignores them in all the issues. Absence of close contacts among the top leaders of the alliance is also one of the reasons for the weakened bond. The sources said, Maulana Ishaque-led Khelafat Majlis and Jamiyate Ulamaye Islam are thinking to cut ties with the 20-party alliance. The two parties may announce their decision soon. President of the Jamiyate Ulamaye Islam Mufti Mohammad Waqqas was present in the stage of the IOJ when its Chairman Maulana Abdul Latif Nezami made the announcement of quitting the alliance on Thursday.The Islami Oikya Jote, Jamiate Ulamaye Islam and Khelafat Majlish are under fold of the Hefazat-e-Islam. According to the sources, the government has been putting pressure on theQwami-Madrasa-based components of the 20-party alliance to quit the alliance since the rise of Hefazat movement in 2013. An influential adviser of Prime Minister and top officials of important government agencies continuously keep in touch with leaders of the parties.There are speculations that several leaders of the Islamic parties have already got certain benefits and privileges from the government.Leaders of BNP and some other partners accused the government of trying to weaken the bond of BNP-led alliance by luring some of its leaders. BNP Vice-Chairman Hafizuddin Ahmed said the government is working to weaken the alliance in a bid to cling to power. The government won’t stop its downfall, as only the BNP is enough to ensure the downfall, he said. Some leaders of the Islamic parties said the government is putting pressure on them to quit the alliance and warned them that they will lose control over their madrasas, and cases would be revived against them. The IOJ left the alliance for, what it said, organisational interest, while it was reported that the party had broken ties with the 20-party alliance due to the ‘government’s pressure and also annoyance with the BNP’. Abdul Latif Nezami said that they left the alliance for making their party stronger and giving it more time. Soon after Nezami’s announcement, a new faction of the IOJ was floated under the leadership of its Senior Vice-Chairman Maulana Abdur Rakib that remained with the BNP. Proclaiming himself as party’s new chairman, Rakib along with party’s other leaders met BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia on that day. They said Nezami’s decision was motivated under pressure from the government.
