The Awami League-led 14-party alliance is now under threat of abrogation after 20 years of its formation due to the inactiveness of political activities.
Sources said the importance of Awami League-led 14-party alliance partners increased before the national election. After the election, the activities of the alliance decreased. For this reason, the distance between the Awami League and its alliance partners increases.
It is known that the 14-party alliance was formed in 2004 to face the BNP-Jamaat politically with the spirit of the Liberation War, Democracy and Non-Communal Bangladesh. Alliance partners are – Awami League, Workers Party of Bangladesh, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD), Ganatantri Party, Bangladesh Samyabadi Dal, National Awami Party (NAP), Ganatantrik Mazdoor Party, Bangladesh Gano Azadi League, Bangladesh Tarikat Federation, Jatiya Party (JP), and Communist Kendra. All the parties except Ganatantrik Mazdoor Party, Gano Azadi League and Communist Kendra have registered with the election commission.
Political analysts said the 14-party alliance will be ineffective for the Awami League after the national election if alliance partners can't move forward in a planned way.
They said the 14-party alliance has become a ‘one-man party’ under the umbrella of the Awami League for the last 20 years. There is no effective future leadership among the alliance partners. In the just concluded parliament election, most of the parties couldn’t win. This has raised a big question about the existence of the alliance.
Awami League presidium member and spokesperson of the 14-party alliance, Amir Hossain Amu acknowledged the organizational weakness of the alliance. He told Bangladesh Pratidin that Awami League president Sheikh Hasina is also not satisfied with the organizational weakness of the alliance partners. Organizational weakness despite being with power is the failure of these parties. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will soon convene a meeting the of 14-party alliance to discuss the issues.
Workers Party’s President Rashed Khan Menon and JSD’s Rezaul Karim Tansen won in the 12th parliamentary election among the alliance partners’ candidates. They slightly saved the reputation of the 14-party alliance.
Contacted, Bangladesh Samyabadi Dal’s Dilip Barua said ups and downs is the normal matter in politics. "We are working to turn around from the current situation."
Workers Party’s President Rashed Khan Menon said the necessity of the 14-party alliance is not over. However, alliance partners will focus on strengthening organizational power.
Political analyst and Dhaka University teacher Professor Dr. Sabbir Ahmed said the 14-party alliance will be important once again before the next national election. Alliance partners will have to focus on organizational strength from now on.
@ The article was published on print and online versions of The Bangladesh Pratidin on February 13, 2024 and has been rewritten in English by Golam Rosul.
