Top leaders of the Awami League led 14-party alliance have reached a consensus on maintaining strong unity among the alliance partners, forgetting all sorts of grievances.
The consensus was reached during a three hour-long meeting on Thursday at the Prime Minister’s official residence Ganabhaban in the capital with Awami League President Sheikh Hasina in the chair.
Amid a growing dissatisfaction among the partners of the Awami League led 14-party alliance, the combine leaders and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has played the flute of unity for the sake of the country.
Top alliance leaders sat for the meeting after five months amid growing dissatisfaction among the partners, created centering the 12th parliamentary elections held on January 7.
Venting their serious frustration, the leaders of the combine asked the alliance leader whether the alliance still exists or not.
In reply, AL President Sheikh Hasina came up with a positive response, meeting sources said.
“I have called you as the alliance still exist. Why does not the alliance exist? It still exist and will remain so,” said a source quoting the premier as saying.
Asked about the meeting, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal faction president Hasanul Haq Inu told the Bangladesh Post that the 14-party alliance reached the consensus to move forward.
“There has been some misunderstanding in the alliance for a long time. But, an initiative has been taken to remove those discontents,” he said. “Now, let’s see how it runs.”
Samyabadi Dal general secretary Dilip Barua told the Bangladesh Post that they raised various points, including the growing disparity in the society and soaring prices of essential commodities before the alliance leader.
“If she (Sheikh Hasina) takes measures, it will be a kind of positive step. And, if she refrains from doing so, then another chapter will appear,” he added.
Asked about the existence of the alliance, which has been moving together since 2004, he said, “If there is no political commitment, it is not possible to move together.”
In the meeting, Workers Party of Bangladesh President Rashed Khan Menon said that they were made aspirants in the last national polls under the alliance. But, AL leaders also contested for those seats in the elections.
“I tried to meet you but my attempt went in vain. I also tried to meet you after the polls but I failed to meet you. Now my question is whether the alliance still exists or not. I want to hear from you,” Menon was quoted as saying.
Taking the floor, Inu also vented his grievances.
“What was the outcome after being an aspirant of the alliance? An AL leader became a constant and I had to fight against an AL leader. Many AL leaders said at that time that there was no existence of the alliance. Even, now many lawmakers and ministers say that there is no existence of the alliance. Under the circumstances, what is vision ahead of the alliance and what kind of work to be carried out. Please make it clear.”
In response, the premier also responded positively. “I said earlier that the alliance will exist. The effectiveness of the alliance remains. You were…. you will remain with the alliance. We will work together.”
Mentioning various conspiracies to thwart the national election, Sheikh Hasina said, “Even, there were plots to kill me.”
