Opposition unity process witnesses further rift

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DHAKA, Oct 16, 2018 (BSS) – The opposition alliance today witnessed a further rift as two partners of the BNP-led 20-party combine, National Democratic Party (NDP) and Bangladesh NAP, quit the grouping ahead of the upcoming general elections.

The two parties announced their disassociation with the alliance at a joint press conference in the city against the backdrop of formation of a new opposition combine, Dr Kamal Hossain-led National Unity Front, joining hands with BNP, discarding a major prospective partner Bikalpadhara Bangladesh.

“We think BNP has entirely deviated from its moral stance by joining with masterminds of 1/11 and ‘minus 2 formula’ in the name of National Unity Front . . . keeping the partners of the 20-party alliance in dark,” NAP chairman Jebel Rahman Ghani told the press conference at a community centre in Gulshan.

He added: “we are severing ties with the 20-party alliance.”

The development came as National Unity Front emerged three days ago discarding former President Badruddoza Chowdhury’s Bikalpadhara which initiated the unity process.

Bikalpadhara spokesman Mahi B Chowdhury later called the formation of the Front “nothing but an anti-Bangladesh conspiracy” particularly referring to its apparent acceptance of Jamaat-e-Islami, a crucial BNP ally.