The New Nation - Internet Edition

Abdur Rahim

Not surprisingly, another political platform has sprung up in country's already volatile political arena infested with various interests groups, ostensibly to serve the people and the country with 'dedication and honesty'. Announcing formation of the new platform, physician-turned politician Dr.Badruddoza Chowdhury on Saturday criticised the two existing political alliances for failing to fulfill the hopes and aspirations of the people.

The people, he said, could not trust the old political leaders who had only served their own personal interests sacrificing the cause of the common people. Politicians, convicted or charged with corruption could never fulfill their pledges given to the electorate, said the former President of the country during the early period of the last BNP-led Four-party Alliance Government.

It may be recalled, the former head of state was obliged to quit his post when he had incurred displeasure of the BNP stalwarts following a controversial statement of his on the occasion of Shaheed Ziur Rahman's death anniversary.

With a view to giving the country the taste of a new leadership, he said, like-minded political parties joined hands, bypassing the two alliances and the new alliance partners would participate in the ensuing parliamentary election. The mentionable parties in the new-born front are: Kamal Hossain's Gonoforum ; Kader Siddique's Krishak-Sramik Janata League; Kalallan Party of (Retd) Major General Ibrahim. Besides, some other less-known political organisations, it is claimed, have backed the formation of the front, yet to be named. Kamal Hossain who also holds views that are identical to those of Dr. Badruddoza Chowdhury was conspicuous by his absence from the new front launching function. However, Gonoforum was represented there by Advocate Subrata Chowdhury, a less known political figure as the General Secretary of the party that could hardly make a dent in the national politics after its formation quite a long time ago, by breaking away from the Awami League. Internationally acclaimed jurist Kamal Hossain didn't go along well with the Aawami League Chief Sheikh Hasina on many policy matters. However, both Dr. Badruddoza and Kamal Hossain did join the great alliance known as 'Mohajote' formed at the fag end of 2006 under the leadership of Awami League to contest in the election that was scheduled to be held on 22nd January, 2007. Retired Col. Oli Ahmed, then a partner of Dr. Badruddoza Chowdhury in the L.D.P also joined the Mohajote to fight the common enemy-the the BNP-led Four -Party Alliance.

But afterwards L.D.P fell apart and Dr. Badruddoza Chowdhury revived his dissolved Bikalpadhara while Oli became the sole leader of the L.D.P. that was formed with some disgruntled former B.N.P leaders including a former Speaker Shaikh Razzaque Ali, former minister in the Ershad government Syed Deedar Bakht and former state ministers Alamgir Kabir and Jahanara Begum.

Meanwhile, the announcement of formation of a new front has given rise to many speculations. Some quarters, consider it as a pressure tactics for bargaining with the Awami League-led alliance to secure more nominations and a guarantee for some important posts in the government to be formed after victory of the alliance in the upcoming polls. Another speculation is, in the event of non-participation of the election by the BNP-led alliance, the new front might contest the election and subsequently perform the role of as opposition in the Parliament.

The proposed alliance is yet to take a shape as the political situation remains fluid because of uncertainty about holding of the election on the announced date - December 18, next. All possible efforts are being made by the present caretaker government to convince the BNP-led alliance to take part in the polls. Firm on its seven-point demand, the BNP leaders say they would join the polls after their demand was met.

It may be recalled that a big unmanageable alliance ends up with internecine quarrel leading to intervention by a third force. The United Front of 1954 formed with many heterogeneous political parties had crushed the then all powerful Muslim League government in East Pakistan but soon afterwards fell apart mainly into two factions one led by KSP Chief Sher-e-Bangla A.K. Fazlul Huq and the other faction by Awami League leaders Ataur Rahman Khan and Sheikh Mujib. Initially, the provincial government was formed under Sher-e-Bangla's leadership but subsequently the cabinet was dissolved following the promulgation of Section 92A. After the lifting of the 92A, the provincial cabinet was alternately formed by KSP and Awami League but under threat of serious clash, which ultimately occurred ; Deputy Speaker Shahed Ali died as a result of the physical fight between the two groups in the Provincial Assembly then located at the present Jagannath Hall old building.

Political activities were banned and a large number of political leaders and workers were arrested, and many went underground to avoid apprehension. Iskandar Mirza ,widely known as a ruthless administrator was then made Governor of East Pakistan.

Pakistani rulers took advantage of the division in the United Front that uprooted Muslim League in East Pakistan in the 1954 election. Uncertainty prevailed in Pakistani politics for long two years. However, a constituent assembly was elected in 1956 by the members of all the five Pakistan provincial assemblies, with a view to framing a long-overdue constitution of the country. Awami League won 12 seats in the Assembly. Horse trading of elected representatives helped the ruling clique in consolidating its grip in the national politics. At one stage, Awami League leader Hossain Shaheed Sarwardhy became Prime Minister of Pakistan and contrary to the demand of the East Pakistan for parity in all affairs, announced that 98 per cent of the demand was met. That was the turning point in the division of the old political organisation, led by Moulana Bhashani. Bhashani was obliged to leave Awami League and later he formed in 1957 an organisation named National Awami Party (NAP) with other popular opposition leaders of West Pakistan, including Gaffar Khan, Mia Iftekharuddin , G.M.Sayed and Gafur Baluch. The convention held in Dhaka for formation of NAP came under severe attack from the Awami League which was ruling the province with Ataur Rahman Khan as the chief Minister. However the command of the party was at the hands of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, General secretary of the party.

The advent of Ayub Khan in the Pakistan politics in October, 1958 sealed the fate of democracy and with it the unity of Pakistan. For ten years of rigorous rule, Ayub Khan had to surrender his post to his deputy Yahiya Khan in the face of opposition protests against Ayub's regime.

The history of Pakistan would have been different had the military junta of the country honoured the results of the 1970 general election in which Awami League became the single majority party in the Parliament. Instead, the Pakistani rulers resorted to inhuman suppression of innocent people of East Pakistan, ultimately forcing them to rise in revolt and secure independent sovereign Bangladesh.

In retrospect, we see that it was possible to fight against a common enemy for a common cause under one banner. In 1954 the people gave a verdict through election against the Muslim League. Although the United Front that spearheaded the fight with three legendary politicians-Sher-e-Bangla A.A.K.Fazlul Huq, Moulana Bhashani and Hussain Shaheed Suhrawardy - in the forefront won the battle but lost the war. They subsequently fell apart, paving the way for consolidation of the grip of the military-aided Pakistani power elite over East Pakistan. The scenario was however different in 1970. The Awami League was the lone winner in the polls from East Pakistan. Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto's PPP had emerged as the single largest party in West Pakistan. In the long run, the two top leaders of the two parties became the heads of the two separate independent states.

We find at home and abroad that alliances of different political parties don't last long and they fall apart when interests of one party come in clash with the dominant faction of the alliance. In Pakistan, Newaz Sharif's Muslim league left the coalition government headed by PPP's Gilani; and the Left Front in India withdrew their support from the Congress-led Government headed by Monmohan Singh. Far away, in Zimbabewe, a power-sharing arrangement brokered by the Western diplomats between the sitting President Mugabe and his rival Svangaria didn't succeed.

The BNP-led Four Party Alliance however did complete their full term of five years in power (2021-2006). Similarly Awami League succeeded in remaining power for the full term (1996-2001). The Awami League had the backing of Ershad's Jatiya Party and JSD leader A.S.M. Rob. In both these cases, the leading two parties had overwhelming majority in the Parliament as such others had to be satisfied with two cabinet posts in each government.

New permutation and combinations are being observed in view of the upcoming parliamentary election. While some heavyweight politicians like Kamal Hossain, Dr. Badruddoza Chowdhury are keeping safe distance from the Awami-led grand alliance, some other relatively less prominent politicians are looking for a berth in the Mohajote.

Under the changed circumstances, Mohajote has lost its image that was created in 2006. But Ershad is consistent in his support to the Mohajote.

Meanwhile, although yet undecided about participation in the election, the BNP has also attracted many new parties to its fold.The PDP chief Ferdous Quraishi wants to wage a movement alongside BNP demanding shifting of the election date. However, situation will be clearer as and when all the major parties come to an understanding about fixing of the election date.

As of now BNP is firm on its seven-point demand, including withdrawal of emergency, to facilitate their participation in the election.