DHAKA, 8 May 2006 — The ruling Nationalist-Islamist alliance in Bangladesh suffered a political setback as one of the coalition’s partners left the government over differences with allocation of seats in the Cabinet.
“We are leaving the alliance as of today to function with an independent political identity,” Misbahur Rahman Chowdhury, Chairman of the Islami Oikkya Jote (Islamic United Group), told reporters at a news briefing.
The decision to quit the alliance was taken after talks between Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and the hard-liner Islamic group failed to reach an agreement. Khaleda’s Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) dominates the alliance formed prior to 2001 general election with religious parties including the Jamaat-e-Islami.
The alliance snatched a thumping victory at the polls drastically reducing the presence of the secular opposition Awami League of former Prime Minister Hasina Wajed in the National Assembly. The BNP shared two Cabinet seats with the Jamaat-e-Islami but denied any position in the government to the other Islamic party partner.
Government sources said the issue of Cabinet positions flared up in the alliance amidst reports that Khaleda might go for a major reshuffle prior to the end of a five-year term in October. Analysts said the move was intended to shore up the alliance to fight the next polls in January 2007.
Meanwhile, a series of violent protests against water and electricity shortages has given Bangladesh’s opposition new hope that they can unsettle the government.
But Secretary-General of the ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan yesterday dismissed any possibility of the government resigning in the wake of the public protests against water and electricity shortages.
“There is no plan to quit before the end of the term...There is no such situation that might create public wrath,” he said responding to a question. Asked about any possibility of a direct talk between Prime Minister Khaleda and Hasina to break the standoff, he said: “An atmosphere conducive to a meaningful talks at the highest level is required and we need to go to that level gradually.”
