Kamal's party won't join United Front, prefers greater alliance

Eminent lawyer Kamal Hossain’s Gano Forum will not join the Jukta Front or United Front floated by former president AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury, ahead of the next general elections.

Rather, the party is considering its joining a greater national alliance, also involving Jukta Front among other components, with a common goal of ensuring a free and fair election in Bangladesh.

Badruddoza Chowdhury, now president of Bikalkpadhara Bangladesh, ASM Abdur Rab of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal. and Mahmudur Rahman Manna-led Nagorik Oikya have recently formed the Jukta Front.

Until the latest development, there were talks and also Front leaders said Gano Forum would be joining the Jukta Front.

The Gano Forum leaders, at a meeting with the B Chowdhury and others, last week conveyed the latter that Gana Forum decided to refrain from formally joining the Jukta Front as it would instead be part of a greater alliance.

“We're not going to be part of the Jukta Front. Rather we are thinking of forming a greater alliance, of course comprising the Jukta Front and other parties and persons who are out of the Jukta Front,” Gano Forum’s executive president Subrata Chowdhury told Prothom Alo on Sunday.

He said that their main goal is to secure a free and fair election in the country.

About the Gano Forum’s decision to not join the Front, Nagorik Oikya’s Manna said, "They might not join us under the banner of the Jukta Front but we will work together. We can even form a new alliance comprising the Jukta Front and Gano Forum.”

Jukta Front and Ganaforum leaders are scheduled to meet at Kamal Hossain’s residence on Tuesday.

Sources involved in the process of making alliance said, they might give ‘a good news’ following the meeting.

Mammudur Rahman Manna said, the parties will work to establish democratic rights.

The declaration of the alliance will be made at a mass rally likely next month.

Rulling Awami League and their arch rival Bangladesh Nationalist Party are trying to form alliances with smaller political parties ahead of next general elections scheduled to be held in December.

Jukta Front and Gano Forum are considering formation of an electoral alliance with the BNP on a long-term basis.

The parties were likely to make a formal decision in this regard in August, but the process was delayed for their failure to reach a consensus on a variety of issues.

Gonoshasthaya Kendra’s Zafrullah Chowdhury, who is actively involved in the process of greater national alliance, recently told Prothom Alo that formation of a greater alliance is a part of the process of forging a national unity.

Naming B Chowdhury and Kamal Hossain, he said, "Our national unity will be easier if these two leaders get united."

Gano Forum’s Subrata Chowdhury said, the national unity will be formed with anyone who 'wants a credible and fair election and a positive change in the country'.

Regarding the BNP’s involvement in the process, he said, “Any political party that complies with the ideals and goals of the alliance such as functional democracy, rule of law, independence of the judiciary and a credible election, can join the process of national unity. Even the government can join us if they accept our plans.”

The leader of Gano Forum earlier said they will form an alliance with the BNP only if the party severe its relations with Jamaat-e-Islami.

He said they will discuss the matter with the BNP leadership after a while.

Abdul Kader Siddique-led Krishak Sramik Janata League is also a part of Jukta Front. Siddique recently held a meeting with Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader.

Asked whether Siddique will form alliance with the Awami League or if he will stay with the process of a greater national unity, Subrata said, “It’s his decision but he publicly said he will work with Kamal Hossain.”

* This report, which has come out in Prothom Alo Bangla online, has been rewritten in English by Galib Ashraf