Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) president, retired colonel Oli Ahmad, has announced that his party will contest the 13th National Parliamentary Election independently after failing to reach an electoral understanding with the BNP.
“We do not want to dissolve the LDP,” Oli Ahmed said. “That is why we have unanimously decided to contest the next general election on our own.”
He made the remarks at an emergency press conference at the LDP office in Moghbazar on Wednesday afternoon.
He urged party members interested in running for office to begin preparations immediately.
Oli Ahmed said BNP leaders had not held any formal discussions with the LDP over seat sharing.
He said he personally sent the party’s nomination list to BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman, BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, and standing committee member Salahuddin Ahmed. However, no official meeting followed.
“When BNP faced difficult times, everyone used to come to my house and call me,” he said. “Now, no BNP leader has even called me. They could have at least asked us to send representatives for talks.”
He said the LDP did not demand a large number of seats. “We did not ask for 12 or 14 seats. Even eight or nine seats would have allowed the party to survive. Instead, they offered only one seat. I’ve never felt so unappreciated.”
Oli Ahmed said the party leadership discussed the situation at length. All presidium members agreed to the proposal and signed off on the decision unanimously.
He said the LDP was founded to establish good governance, justice and people’s rights, and to build a Bangladesh free from extortion and terrorism. “The party remains committed to those ideals,” he added.
Meanwhile, LDP secretary general Redwan Ahmed resigned from the party on Wednesday and formally joined the BNP.
BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir announced that Redwan Ahmed would contest the election from Cumilla-7 (Chandina) constituency as a BNP candidate with the sheaf of paddy symbol.
Asked about the resignation, Oli Ahmed said he had not received Redwan Ahmed’s resignation letter. “So, I cannot comment on the matter,” he said.
