10 political parties form NDF alliance

Ten political parties have formed a new political alliance, Nationalist Democratic Front (NDF), on Thursday.

Sheikh Shawkat Hossain Nilu is the initiator of the new alliance. He will act as chairperson of NDF.

On August 25, Shawkat Hossain's National People's Party left the BNP-led 20-party alliance.

The new alliance members are NPP, National Democratic Party led by Alamgir, Islamic Party led by Rashid, Muslim League led by Zubeida Quader, NAP Bhashani led by Anwar, Labour Party led by Moni, Trinamul NAP led by Parveen Bhashani, Bhashani Mancha led by Mumtaz, Insaf Party led by Shaheed Chowdhury and Jagodal.

Meanwhile, NPP and NAP Bhashani have announced their decision to leave the 20-party alliance. NDP and Muslim League, however, have not yet announced their decision to leave the alliance.

However NDP secretary general Ali Nur Chowdhury and Muslim League secretary general Atiqul Islam told Prothom Alo that they would join the new alliance.

Islamic Party secretary general A Rashid Pradhan said they will decide after further discussions.

BNP leaders have blamed the government, saying that a government agency was plotting a split in the 20-party alliance.

BNP joint secretary general Mohammad Shahjahan said that if a new alliance emerged it would not harm the 20-party alliance. BNP is not worried.