Dhaka: The Awami League-led Mohajote (grand alliance) has started its move for expansion in the next six months ahead of the general election.

The grand alliance partners have already started discussion with pro-liberation and secular political parties and fronts to expand the size of the alliance with an aims and objectives to fare well in the battle of ballots in the next election. The components of the 14-party alliance have already launched negotiation with several political parties for immediate inclusion of some potential parties, said a top leader of the 14-part alliance on condition of anonymity.

As part of the alliance expansion move, some top leaders of the Mohajote is all set to hold formal discussion in a day or two with Anwar Hossain Manju led Jatiya Party for its inclusion in the Mohajote.

Admitting parleys with Mohajote leaders, Anwar Hossain Monju on Saturday afternoon said, “I had a meeting with Mohajote leaders on Thursday, but that could not be held due to the budget session. But Awami League Presidium Member and coordinator of Mohajote Mohammad Nasim told me that the meeting will be held within a day or two.”

A reliable source in the ruling Awami League said the meeting will be held within a day or two at the AL President’s Dhanmondi office. Several leaders of the ruling AL have confirmed the alliance expansion moves while talks with Prime News. Other than Jatiya Party (Monju) talks and preliminary parleys are also being held with the Communist Party of Bangladesh, Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal (BSD), Jaker Party, Torikat Federation and some other pro-Islamic parties for their inclusion in the grand alliance led by ruling Awami League ahead of the general election set for early next year to do well in the battle for ballots, said a top ranking AL leader preferring anonymity.

After preliminary parleys, the alliance coordinator and top alliance leaders will hold formal discussion over their inclusion in the grand alliance, said AL sources. Regarding the expansion of grand alliance, AL Presidium Member and grand alliance spokesman Mohammad Nasim told Prime News on Saturday, “14-party alliance will formally hold discussion with Jatiya Party (Monju), but no consensus has been reached over its inclusion in the grand alliance.”

In response to a question over alliance expansion Nasim said, “Yes we’re planning expansion of the Mohajote ahead of the election and as part of that process we’re having exchange of views and parleys with pro-liberation and secular political parties in phases and more formal talks will be held with those parties.”

Regarding expansion of the Mohajote, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal general secretary Sharif Nurul Ambia said, “We’re trying to comb up all the parties, social and political forces who are against the Jamaat-e-Islami and Hefazat-e-Islam following their recent atrocious violent activities and are exchanging views with them for their inclusion in the Mohajote.”

Tarikot Federation secretary general MA Awal said, “We’ll consider if any formal proposal is made to us to join the Mohajote.”

AL sources said already Anwar Hossain Monju of Jatiya Party had discussion with AL president Sheikh Hasina regarding his party’s joining in the Mohajote. 

The ruling Awami League had taken move for expansion of the grand alliance several times earlier and this time concrete steps have been taken for materializing the expansion move quite seriously against the backdrop of Hefazat-e-Islam’s alienation and confrontation with the AL-led grand alliance on May 5 considering its impact on vote bank and Hefazat’s tilt towards BNP-led alliance.

Earlier Obaidul Quader had been given the responsibility formally on July 17, 2011 for holding talks with like-minded parties for expansion of the grand alliance. He held parleys and formal talks at that time with CBP’s Mujahidul Islam Selim, BSD’s Khalequzzaman, Krishak Sramik Janata League president Kader Siddiqui and LDP’s Col (retd) Oli Ahmed for their inclusion in the grand alliance. But that parley finally failed in absence of proper follow-up over alliance expansion.

But this time the ruling AL is left with no choice but to go for expansion of the alliance with some religious parties and pro-liberation elements following direct clashes with Hefazt, Jamaat and some other Islamic parties over crackdown on Hefazat rally, trial of war criminals and confrontation with Muslim devotees on streets ahead of election considering the pro-religion vote banks and its use in favour of the grand alliance in the next general election, said a political analyst, who teaches political science at Dhaka University, on Saturday over phone.

Ends/OSR/AMA/08/06/13