Several parties try to form Jamaat alternative opposition force

Several political parties are trying to form a strong opposition force in the street as an alternative alliance of Jamaat-e-Islami.

The moderate and left leaning political parties are trying to form a strong democratic alliance while the radical Islamic parties also initiate efforts to forge alternative platform.

Moderate and left leaning parties saying Jamaat-e-Islami is functioning as a cohort opposition party of the government while the Qwami Madrasa based radical parties are trying to be alternative Islamic force vying Jamaat with a joint effort.

All of those moderate and radical parties say they did not think that Jamaat-e-Islami is acting as a strong opposition party so there are vacuum created in political arena which need to fill for the sake of the country’s democracy.

They said, as an alternative opposition force their aim is to compel the government to do what will favor the people and the country.

Both the separate ideological groups are trying the same- to become Jamaat’s alternative by forming different alliances.

Talking to Asia Post, leaders of some parties shared their views that there is a vacuum have created in absence of an effective opposition party in the parliament.

They alleged that Jamaat-e-Islami, the opposition party of the Parliament, in most cases, is running their functions compromising with the ruling party.

In this view, these politicians said, there is no one to raise voice against the wrong steps of the government.

They said also that only effective opposition party could compel the government to act on favour of the people.

Politicians said, in absence of the fallen fascist Awami League, which was a major political force in Bangladesh there was a vacuum created in this arena.

Most of the time in the history of Bangladesh the Awami League played major role in politics.

The party occupied the state power in the last 17 years while the present ruling party BNP was in the street agitation.

Besides, in the previous times, while the BNP formed government, the Awami League was sitting in the opposition bench in the parliament and functioned strongly in every steps of the government.

Political analysts said, though most of the time of the BNP and Awami League was political rivalry instead of constructive criticizing, but there was no political vacuum created in presence of the two major party (The BNP and AL).

Meanwhile, fallen fascist party Awami League’s activities is banned now and the party’s acceptance also nearly zero to the countrymen.

In the same time there are no any alternative political party which has history of gaining majority or widely held popularity in the previous times.

Such condition has created a real void of a pro-people force in the arena.

Amidst this situation, the remaining political parties in the country, most of those are not in BNP or Jamaat lead alliances, are now discussing to form a strong alternative force to fill the emptiness.

Questions over the roles of ruling and opposition parties

Political parties, which staying out of Parliament and alliances led by the BNP or Jamaat are saying government is not acting properly while the opposition also is not doing their duties perfectly.

They said, though it is very little time the government sit in the power to judge them. But they have not address things which supposed to be done for the sake of the people and the country.

They pointed out the government’s failure of implementing the July Charter as well the people’s verdict on the referendum.

They also said, farmers of the country are suffering for long of getting their materials like seeds, fertilizers, irrigation facilities, insecticides in fair prices.

Market syndicates compelled them to buy those materials in higher prices while the labour costs also high.

On the other hand, the farmers get not appropriate prices while they sale their crops.

The middlemen earn huge money, the consumers compelled to buy those products in higher prices, but the farmers deprived to get fair value.

The government must have to address these problems to save the farmers.

Besides, the politicians also pointed to the widespread extortions, killing spree and unabated rape incidents across the country.

They said, drug smuggling and drug abusing has alarmingly increasing in the country while there is no sign of contain these yet.

The political parties call the government to take proper actions on those issues.

In the same time, they said, Jamaat-e-Islami so far shown no sufficient role as a opposition party both in the parliament and in the street.

In such, the political parties are on discussion to form a ‘third’ or ‘alternative’ force to implement the people’s desires.

They said the discussions have already started as a preliminary gesture to form a common platform for taking necessary actions as a strong political entity.

Manna marks Jamaat as pro-government party

When contacted, Nagorik Oikya President Mahmudur Rahman Manna told Asia Post, “Jamaat-e-Islami is playing a role like a part of the ruling party, while the ruling party looks not fulfilling the people’s desire. They (Jamaat) are their (BNP’s) men. So, an alternative democratic force may be formed within the similar minded political parties.”

He said, the discussion on the issue have been started as primary level. Many have to do.

Nagorik Oikya was in simultaneous movement with the BNP against the fascist Hasina regime. It have been rifted from the BNP’s undeclared alliance during the last polls as both of Manna’s constituencies was contested by BNP’s candidate directly which supposed not to be happened as he was an ally.

CPB for forming greater alliance

Contacted, Communist Party of Bangladesh, (CPB)’s Presidium Member Ruhin Hossain Prince told Asia Post, “The newly formed government has not started reviewing the treaty’s signed with USA during the interim government. The government also has not gestured any sign of doing anything to meet the gas crisis which created sufferings in industries of the country.

He said the law and order situation of the country is not good as mob, rape, killings, drug abusing and extortions have hiked.

The CPB leader said, the current opposition party Jamaat-e-Islami seemed to played role as a part of the government.

The former General Secretary of CPB, said, “There is a vacuum of an effective opposition party. We have started discussion to similar ideological and democratic forces to form an alternative alliance to raise voice on behalf of the people and the nation.”

Comrade Prince said, any political party beyond our ideology could join us with simultaneous movement in future.

There is a vacuum of effective opposition: Saiful Haque

Biplobi (Revolutionary) Workers Party also was a member of the BNP’s simultaneous movement against the fallen Hasina government.

Comrade Saiful Haque, General Secretary of the party contested from a Dhaka seat and favored by the BNP as it had not nominated any of the party men, but one of it’s (BNP) leader became contender as a rebel candidate.

He (Saiful Haque) did not elected as an MP, while he has not rewarded by the BNP by making him technocrat minister or such other things.

Saiful Haque told Asia Post, “It is very little time to judge the government’s activities. But it is remarkable that there is a vacuum of an effective opposition party.

He said, “Preliminary discussion has been started among the democratic political parties. There may be a possibility of forming an alliance to fill the gap.”

Hefajat Efforts to Unite Qwami Based Parties

Besides the moderate parties, Hefajate Islami is has initiated efforts to unite Qwami madrasah-based parties to form strong force as alternative of Jamaat-e-Islami. They seated several times recently on the issue.

Contacted, Jamiat Ulema-e- Islam, Secretary General Monjurul Islam Afendi told Aisa Post, “We are observing the activities of the government. We have decided to support the government’s positive steps, but must oppose any role against the people or the country.”

He said, it may be possible to go with simultaneous movement with any democratic party if needed for the nation.

What the BNP’s view on the issue

BNP leaders said they always welcome constructive criticizing from the opponents.

When contacted, BNP Vice-Chairman Dr. Asaduzzaman Ripont told Asia Post, “BNP government is promised to do everything for the good of the people, the country and for the democracy.”

He said, also, “It will be welcomed to form any opposition alliance in the street to show the government if anything doing wrong. BNP never be angry like the fascist to hear the opposition’s voice of any issue.”

What Jamaat-e-Islami Says

Jamaat-e-Islami said they are playing pivotal role as an opposition party in the parliament.

The party leaders said after the historic July Uprising, the manners of both the ruling and opposition parties supposed to get a new shape as per the desire of the student and masses.

As per the July Uprising passion Jamaat-e-Islami is trying to play constructive role in both Parliament and the street.

When contacted, Jamaat-e-Islami Spokesperson and Joint-Secretary General Advocate Ahsanul Mahboob Zubair told Asia Post, “Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami always believes in playing constructive role. Not only after July Uprising, you see, our party never involved in destructive activities in any time in the past.”

He said, “Jamaat has supported the government in anything positive for the country, similarly it protested any steps if found going against the people.”

“You Jamaat MPs with others walked out from the Parliament sessions opposing the treasury bench’s misdeeds. Similarly, we observed several programmes in the street protesting government’s steps on the issues like July Charter and Refferendum.”

Which Experts say

Political analysts said the government is formed newly, so it is too early to judge their work.

They said, though the BNP and the Jamaat-e-Islami were previously alliance but now they have maintained their distinctions.

Experts said, it is sure that Jamaat-e-Islami is not alternative of Awami League, but opposing everything destructively also not acceptable in the name of politics.

When contacted, Professor Dr. SM Ali Reza, of the Department of Political Science of Dhaka University told Asia Post, “After July Uprising there are a new trend we found of politics of constructive criticizing, which is a very good matter. It is not acceptable from opposition political parties to oppose everything of the government indiscriminately positive or negative.”

The professor said, multi-party system always allows forming opposition democratic force.

He said, the political parties first needed to increase connectivity with the people.

The political analyst said, forming opposition alliance will be good to strengthening democracy of the country.