CPB, 7 other parties form new alliance

Left Democratic Alliance (LDA), a newly formed platform of eight left-leaning parties, yesterday demanded that the present parliament be dissolved before the schedule for the next general election is announced.

The alliance was floated yesterday through a press conference at Mukti Bhaban -- headquarters of Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB). 

In the briefing, the LDA also demanded formation of a neutral election-time government and reorganisation of the Election Commission after discussions with all political parties and different groups of people. According to the alliance, the entire election system collapsed and free and fair election would not be possible under the present “subservient” EC.

“The entire election system has turned into a farce. There is no rule of law in the country. Opposition parties and dissidents are being oppressed as the government continues torture, filing of false cases, arrests, enforced disappearances and killings to cling to power,” CPB President Mujahidul Islam Selim told the briefing. 

The alliance will wage movements for a free, fair and credible general election, he added.

Shifting of the state power between the Awami League and the BNP will not solve the present crisis in the country, said Saiful Huq, general secretary of Revolutionary Workers Party and coordinator of the left combine.

It is therefore important to float an alternative political force apart from the two parties, he said in a statement.

Criticising the government, Saiful also said people were at a loss due to unprecedented corruption and misrule of the government.

Although the EC has announced a road map to the next general election, there is still no atmosphere in the country to cast votes, he added.

Terming Khulna and Gazipur city corporations elections “controlled”, he said the same “model” would be followed in the upcoming city corporation polls in Barisal, Rajshahi and Sylhet.

The alliance is comprised of CPB, Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal, Revolutionary Workers Party of Bangladesh, Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal (Marxist), Ganasanghati Andolan, United Communist League of Bangladesh, Ganatantrik Biplabi Party and Bangladesher Samajtantrik Andolan.

It also declared a four-day programme, including holding countrywide demonstrations on July 24 protesting the misrule of the government, holding a discussion on reforms of the electoral system on August 4 in Dhaka and holding rallies in six divisional cities on August 10 and 11.