BNP blames Awami League of creating rift between its allies

The BNP blames the ruling party for trying to create a rift within the 20-Party opposition alliance, which it leads.

Senior leader Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said on Saturday that the Awami League (AL), which came to power through a ‘voterless polls’, is now ‘politically bankrupt’.
 
His allegations follow the Islami Oikyo Jote’s (IOJ) decision to withdraw from the 20-Party alliance.
 
IOJ Chairman Abdul Latif Nezami announced on Thursday that his party had left the BNP-led coalition. An IOJ faction, however, said it was still with the alliance.
 
The same day, several BNP leaders alleged that it was the Awami League’s handiwork.
 
In 1999, Khaleda Zia announced the Four-Party alliance with Jatiya Party, Jamaat-e-Islami and IOJ to launch a movement against the then AL-led government.
 
Since then, the IOJ has been a part of the BNP-led front that later grew into the present 20-Party alliance.

The Awami League has rubbished BNP’s allegations. Senior leader Mahbub Ul Alam Hanif said that they have no idea why IOJ left the BNP-led coalition, but said the alliance was in trouble due to 'unholy' acts.

BNP Acting Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul said on Saturday: “It now seems that the Awami League, which in the past has led movements for democracy, has now turned into a politically bankrupt party.”

Speaking at the national convention of the Labour Party, a BNP ally, he came down hard on the ruling party saying that it should have played a role to establish democracy in the country.

“But it’s trying to create a rift within other political parties instead.”

Fakhrul claimed that it’s not just the BNP being oppressed, but anyone with a different view.

He referred to former Awami League leader Mahmudur Rahman Manna, who is now in jail on charges of inciting a possible military takeover in Bangladesh.

Manna broke away from AL to form the Nagarik Oikya, which he had often said would become the 'third most important party' in Bangladesh.

“Manna was not involved with the BNP or the 20-Party alliance. He has been jailed because he expresses his opinions. The rulers are now completely isolated from the people and constantly resort to oppression to stay in power," Fakhrul said.

The senior BNP leader also rapped the media.

“We are surprised to see that the media now looks for what were the opposition’s mistakes. The BNP and 20-Party might have made mistakes, but we do not see the media being vocal against those who are destroying democracy and depriving the people of their basic rights.”

“The people cannot exercise their franchise in any election, be it parliament, Upazila or municipality polls. The upcoming Union Parishad election will be no different."