The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Former prime minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia yesterday agreed in principal to expand the four-party alliance after the Eid-ul-Fitr to face the prevailing situation ahead of the general polls.

The positive gesture from the four-party leader came as JAGPA president Shafiul Alam Prodhan and National Peoples Party chairman Sheikh Shawkat Hossain Nilu met her at the residence of journalist Shafik Rehman in the city and proposed to join the four-party alliance.

Begum Zia, however, said that a decision in this regard would be taken at the top leaders' meeting of the alliance after the Eid.

She emphasised the need for forging a greater unity of nationalist forces ahead of the general elections.

After the meeting, Shafiul Alam Prodhan told reporters that he proposed to the BNP chairperson to expand the nationalist forces and she agreed to consider the proposal.

Replying to a question, he said they would be more comfortable in BNP led four-party alliance than in the 14-party alliance.

NPP chairman Shawkat Hossain Nilu said Khaleda Zia is not only chairperson of BNP; she is the leader of the nationalist forces as well as chairman of the nationalist front.

"Begum Zia is expected to lead all the nationalist forces in the upcoming polls," he hoped.

Nilu said they proposed the BNP Chairperson to accommodate them in the 4-party alliance and hoped she would accept them.

BNP office secretary Ruhul Kabir Rizvi Ahmed told reporters that party chairperson urged all the nationalist forces to get united ahead of the upcoming general election.

"She (Khaleda) has underlined the importance of unity for restoration of democracy and safeguarding the national integrity and sovereignty," he said.

Meanwhile, leaders of BGMEA, BKMEA, Jatiya Imam Samity, Kazi Samity, Teachers-Students Oikya Jote, Jatiyatabadi Muktijoddah Dal and Khaleda Zia Sangskriti Parishad BNP chairperson's adviser Enam Ahmed Chowdhury, known as reformist, Justice Faysal Mahmud Fayeji, Ismail Hossain Simon, the son of late Col (Retd) Akbar Hossain called on Begum Zia separately.

Later Enam Ahmed Chowdhury told reporters that Begum Zia advised him to forget the past mistakes and work unitedly.

"Confusion in the party has now been removed. Begum Zia has extended her hands of cooperation," he said.