BDB President AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury, Jatiya Oikya Manch President Dr Kamal Hossain and Tarikat Federation Chairman Syed Najibul Bashar Maijbhandari jointly declared the new alliance aimed at bringing a meaningful and qualitative change in political and state affairs, electing honest and competent public representatives and establishing an effective parliament.

They said the alliance would not participate in the next parliamentary elections without reforms in the caretaker government and the Election Commission.

The joint declaration came at a press conference at the National Press Club, where BDB Secretary General Major (Rtd) Abdul Mannan read out the joint declaration while Kamal and Badruddoza Chowdhury answered journalists' questions.

JOF pledged to strengthen the ongoing movement for reforms and said they might have agreements with other political parties and alliance, which are moving against the four-party alliance to ensure people's victory by organising minimum agitation programmes.

"We shall not go for the elections without reforms. We cannot take part in an election that is being engineered by the four-party alliance and will be shameful for the nation," said Badruddoza Chowdhury.

He said they would never leave the parliament regardless of their being in the government or in the opposition. The Speaker of the parliament must be non-partisan and there should be two deputy speakers, one from the ruling party and the other from the opposition, he added.

On Ershad's inclusion in the four-party alliance Chowdhury said, "He [Ershad] has several options. His joining the four-party alliance is still not certain. Even if he joined, he would participate in the elections with his election symbol Langol [plough]. He may also leave the alliance after the elections."

When asked if there were any possibilities of Ershad joining JOF he said, "That option is also there."

JOF leader Dr Kamal Hossain urged the alliance government 'not to ruin the nation any further' at the fag end of their tenure and advised them to hold a 'function of seeking apology' in the next 50 days.

Kamal avoided answering when asked from which alliance he would compete in the election, 14-party alliance or the JOF, as he is in both alliances.

Asked if the new alliance would request Justice KM Hasan, the possible chief adviser to the next caretaker government under the current system, not to take the post, Kamal said, "We have to think over structural issues for achieving any target."

He said they went to different parts of the country, discussed national issues with people and listened to their suggestions before forming the alliance.

The four-party alliance has looted national resources, politicised the administration and the judiciary, which is why people want a meaningful change in running the state. "We are united today to bring the changes," he added.

Tarikat Federation Chairman Syed Najibul Bashar Maijbhandari said the new alliance will be victorious in at least 100 of the 211 constituencies the ruling party now has.

In the joint declaration, Major (Rtd) Abdul Mannan mentioned seven principles of the alliance. Those are electing honest and competent members, establishing effective and accountable parliament and administration, separating the judiciary from the executive, ensuring free flow of information, uprooting militancy, terrorism and taking effective steps to alleviate poverty, practical steps to ensure the rights of children and women and establishing a non-communal society.

BDB Organising Secretary Mahi B Chowdhury, Joint Secretary General Firoz Hassan and other leaders of Jatiya Oikya Manch and Tarikat Federation were present.