Dhaka: BNP, Jatiya Oikya Prokriya and a faction of Jukta Front on Saturday launched a new opposition alliance, ‘Jatiya Oikya Front’, ahead of the 11^th national election without Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh President AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury.

The new alliance envisages realising seven demands, including the resignation of the government, dissolution of parliament, formation of an election-time neutral government and the release of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, and meeting 11 goals.

Dr Kamal Hossain came up with the announcement of the Jatiya Oikya Front at a press conference at the Jatiya Press Club while Nagorik Oikya Convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna read out the demands and goals of the alliance, reports the UNB.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Kamal said, ‘We’re forging the unity in the interest of 16 crore people of the country, not to protect the interest of any party. We’re going to start the journey of the Jatiya Oikya Front to restore people’s rights their ownership of the country.’

He hoped that AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury-led Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh would also join the new alliance later.

Dr Kamal called upon all the democratic parties, organisations, individuals and people of all strata who believe in the spirit of the Liberation War to join the new alliance.

Two leaders of Badruddoza Chowdhury-led Jukta Front JSD President ASM Abdur Rob and Mahmudur Rahman Manna joined the new alliance.

With the joining of two parties in the new alliance, Jukta Front apparently faced a split as B Chowdhury announced not to join the Jatiya Oikya Front.

At a press conference at his residence, B Chowdhury said their party is not there in the Dr Kamal-led new alliance.

He said they did not join the new alliance as BNP did not accept their two demands—leaving Jamaat and giving assurance to ensure a balance in power during formation of the government.

Earlier, announcing the seven-point demand and 12 goals of the Jatiya Oikya Front, Jukta Front member secretary and Nagorik Oikya convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna said they started a new struggle against autocracy to free people from sufferings and repression. ‘We’ll come up with action programmes gradually.’

Another Jukta Front leader and JSD president Abdur Rob said they will announce their programmes soon and visit all the divisional cities.

Besides, he said, they will exchange views with foreign diplomats, journalists and different professionals.

BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said a new journey of a democratic movement began today with the formation of the new alliance.

He said though Bangladesh was liberated with a dream of building a democratic country, people are now crying for democracy.

‘The nation, we believe, will get freed from the current situation through our united movement,’ he added.

BNP standing committee members Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain and Moudud Ahmed, former caretaker adviser Barrister Mainul Hosein and Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury, former vice president of Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (Ducsu) Sultan Mohammad Mansur Ahmed, among others, spoke at the press conference.