CPB keeps off AL's move for common reform agenda
Reaz Ahmad
The Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) is finally keeping off the Awami League (AL) and its allies' move to formulate a common agenda by July 10 for reforms in the caretaker government and electoral systems ahead of the next general elections. CPB President Manjurul Ahsan Khan informed AL General Secretary Abdul Jalil on Thursday over telephone that his party would not be involved in any move for a common reform agenda. Earlier on June 28, the CPB had made it clear at an 11-party alliance meeting that it would not go with the AL on the reform issue. Jalil told The Daily Star last night, " We will (AL, JSD, NAP and 11-party) sit tomorrow (Saturday) again to attain our target of preparing a common agenda by July 10 at the latest." In reply to a question, he said, "I don't know it for sure but CPB president has assured me of continuing simultaneous anti-government movement even if the party does not like to join us in formulating a common reform agenda." When contacted yesterday, the CPB president admitted to his telephonic talks with Jalil, and clarified his party position saying, " We have fundamental differences with Awami League. We had floated the 11-party alliance with the goal of evolving an alternative political force beyond the AL-BNP bipolar political culture. But I think there is nothing that can hold us back from continuing a simultaneous movement." Asked if the 11-party combine is heading for a formal split when its other components go with the AL on the common agenda issue despite CPB's reservations, Manjurul said, " This (split) is inevitable because building an alliance with Awami League or BNP goes against the very spirit of the 11-party." JSD (Inu) chief Hasanul Haq Inu termed the CPB move a 'stab from the back' in the process of building a united movement. "Still, we'll meet again tomorrow (Saturday) to see how far we can carry forward our joint efforts for free and fair polls in future," said Inu. He hoped once a common reform agenda is prepared, CPB would also welcome it. Workers Party President Rashed Khan Menon had earlier told The Daily Star, "We don't subscribe to CPB's views that 11-party and Awami League should carryon the movement for reforms on their own. I simply don't understand how the spirit of 11-party is compromised if we forge a greater unity against a regime that patronises war criminals." He went on, "Earlier Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal (BSD) had left us but we did not stop."
| 
