Abu Jakir :
The distance between the ruling Awami League and its partners in the 14-party alliance has widened, leading to uncertainty about the future of the coalition. The alliance, once a robust political force, now finds its activities reduced to mere formalities.
Insiders from both the Awami League and its allied parties reveal that the ruling party is not inclined to dissolve the alliance but prefers to keep it nominally intact. Meanwhile, the partners lack the political will or courage to sever ties, opting instead to wait for the evolving political landscape to determine the alliance’s fate.
During a crucial meeting on May 23, chaired by Prime Minister and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina, alliance partners questioned the continued relevance of the coalition. The Awami League assured them of its relevance, citing the very meeting as proof.
However, they also pointed out the partners’ weakness as individual entities, urging them to bolster their own strength. This response has only deepened the partners’ uncertainty about their future within the alliance.
One leader from an allied party, speaking anonymously to The New Nation, lamented the decline of the alliance since its formation in 2004. Initially, it was promised that movements, elections, and government formation would be joint endeavors. However, since 2018, the government has been entirely under the Awami League’s control, with no significant street programs or activities from the alliance, now reduced to sporadic central meetings.
The leader also noted a shrinking representation in elections, with the current parliament having only two direct representatives from the alliance, which undermines the significance of their participation.
Sources from the ruling party suggest that the Awami League and the government aim to maintain alliances with certain progressive parties and their leaders. This has led to reluctant seat allocations to partners in national elections, though no concessions are made in local elections.
A significant faction within the Awami League, both at the central and grassroots levels, opposes even these limited concessions.
Policymakers believe that the 14-party partners lack substantial voter bases, a sentiment publicly acknowledged by senior Awami League leaders before national elections. Consequently, the strategy seems to be maintaining the alliance in name only.
This approach was evident in the January 7 national parliamentary elections, where the Awami League allocated the fewest seats to partners since they began contesting elections together, offering just six seats.
The allied parties believe that without significant internal and international pressure, the Awami League will continue to sideline them. In response, some partners are considering putting pressure on the government by focusing on public-related issues through their own party programs.
To this end, the alliance partners are preparing to mobilize on issues such as rising commodity prices, money laundering, corruption, and the spread of communalism. They plan to announce these programs after the budget and begin street actions post-Eid-ul-Adha.
According to sources within the 14-party alliance, the recent meeting with the Prime Minister was seen as a crucial moment for the coalition. In preparation, several top leaders held informal discussions among themselves before the meeting.
A leader from one of the allied parties, who participated in the meeting, expressed disappointment, stating on condition of anonymity that there were no significant achievements to report.
Rashed Khan Menon, president of the Workers Party, noted, “Our alliance chief and Awami League president Sheikh Hasina suggested that we be proactive and play an opposition role by constructively criticizing the government on various public interests.”
Hasanul Haq Inu, president of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD), a major partner in the alliance, expressed hope for increased political programs within the alliance. Nonetheless, he emphasized that his party, JSD, will independently address issues such as rising commodity prices, corruption, and money laundering after Eid-ul-Adha, regardless of the alliance’s future activities.