The ruling Awami League has got “crazy” after formation of the Jatiya Oikyafront ahead of the next general election, BNP Standing Committee Member Moudud Ahmed said today.

“The government has been hit below the belt after formation of the Jatiya Oikyafront. It proves the ruling quarter is afraid of the unity,” Moudud said while addressing a programme at the National Press Club in Dhaka this noon.

Moudud, also a former law minister, said, the government is “frightened” of Jatiya Oikyafront and thus it is now “misleading people uttering various fictitious remarks”.

Criticising the activities of Jatiya Oikyafront, Finance Minister AMA Muhith at a programme yesterday said, “Zero and zero makes zero and the result of the Jatiya Oikyfront will be zero.”    

Since the inception of the Jatiya Oikyafront, several ruling party leaders and ministers have been saying that Oikyafront will not sustain and their efforts will go in vain.

Amid such situation, Moudud said Awami League will meet a serious electoral debacle in the face of the pressure of the Jatiya Oikyafront.

Moudud said no members of the incumbent cabinet will be able the pass in the next general election if it is held in a free, fair and inclusive manner.

He also blamed the ruling quarter for destroying electoral atmosphere across the country and said the ruling quarter is heading with its motive to hold another unilateral election.

About denial of permission for Sylhet rally of the Oikyafront, Moudud said the government’s popularity has got down alarmingly and thus it has denied permission to hold the rally in the city on October 23.

After weeks of talks and intense negotiations, the BNP and four other political parties formally launched an alliance called Jatiya Oikyafront on Saturday, excluding Bikalpadhara Bangladesh led by former president Prof Badruddoza Chowdhury, just months before the national election.

The four other parties are -- Gonoforum led by Dr Kamal Hossain, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal led by ASM Abdur Rab, Nagorik Oikya and Forward Party.