DHAKA: BNP is passing through troubled waters with its 20 alliance partners on several issues. 

This warp and woof situation is increasing day in day out due to lack of taking alliance’s decision in cases of any unified action, invitation to partners through insignificant leaders and absence of close contacts among the top leaders of the alliance. Even the small partners are accusing BNP of ignoring them.

Under these situations though the size of the alliance has become fat owing to joining of new small signboard parties, BNP’s relation with old partners is deteriorating day by day.

The partners allege that though BNP chief has recently announced in the Iftar parties about starting an all out movement start after Eid festival to topple the government, she did not discuss the nature, strategy and other pros and cons of the demonstration with the alliances.

The allies are very much aggrieved for this ‘ignoring’ attitude of BNP.

However, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, in a recently held Iftar party, has claimed that the alliance is very much unified.

Party sources informed that former president and Bikalpa Dhara chief AQM Badruduzza Chowdhury and Krishak Sramik Janata League chief Abdul Kader Siddique were invited by the employees of BNP office in the Iftar party thrown for the politicians on July 2.

The two senior leaders did not take the courtesy of invitation ‘very easy’. The aggrieved leaders accordingly kept the invitation by sending their secretaries.

When contacted Kader Siddique to comment on the invitation he told that due respect was shown as a common man. This does not need long lecture.

On the other hand, acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam does not keep any contact with another prominent ally Jamaat-e-Islami.

Neither Mirza Fakhrul nor any other senior BNP leaders call Jamaat or other allies whenever a meeting of the alliance is called with Khaleda Zia.

Generally, the alliance leaders are informed about any meeting through BNP office employees Jasim, Shairul Kabir Khan and Didar. The alliance leaders think that invitation through employees is not proper.

Besides, alliance meeting ends without any decisions as Khaleda Zia alone takes all decisions. Sometimes the news of decisions does not go to the knowledge of the alliance partners even the BNP standing committee members also come to know it after a long gap.

When contacted, wishing anonymity an assistant secretary general of city Jamaat told Banglanews that relation of Jamaat with BNP is still as before but for strategic reason they (BNP) are keeping safe distance.

Alliance partner Bangladesh Labour Party chairman Dr. Mostafizur Rahman Iran told Banglanews that we generally get invitation through the employees of Gulshan BNP office. Whether it is courteous or beyond that we did not think.

However, denying these allegations against BNP of ignoring its alliance partners, BNP Mirza Fakhrul Islam told Banglanews that the allegation of ignoring the alliance is not true.

The relation among the allies exists as before. It is fairly good.

On the contrary, one alliance partner Islamic Party chairman Advocate Mobin does not agree with Mirza Fakhrul’s argument and added that the decision of the alliance is taken solely by BNP chief Khaleda Zia and they are given invitation from Gulshan office.

BDST: 1620 HRS, JUL 11, 2014