Dhaka, Jan 06 (V7N)- Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) President Colonel (retd.) Oli Ahmed Bir Bikram has said that Jamaat-e-Islami is now a “clean” political force, questioning how freedom fighters and Bir Bikram awardees could otherwise join hands with the party.

He made the remarks at an emergency press conference held at the LDP central office in Moghbazar on Monday (January 5).

Oli Ahmed said that many young people who played a role in what he termed the country’s “second liberation” and helped restore freedom of expression were affiliated with Jamaat.
“I fought against Pakistan during the first liberation. Now, all of us are united,” he said.

Clarifying the nature of the political alliance, the LDP chief said,
“We did not join Jamaat, and Jamaat did not join LDP. Our party symbol is not the ‘beard’, it is the ‘umbrella’. We have brought together the spirit of the Liberation War and the spirit of July.”

He further said that a seat-sharing agreement has been reached among the alliance partners. Under the agreement, Jamaat will not contest in constituencies where LDP candidates are fielded, and LDP will refrain from contesting in seats allocated to Jamaat.

Commenting on foreign relations, Oli Ahmed said the future of Bangladesh would be decided by its own people.
“There is no dispute with India, but we will not accept decisions being made in Delhi and implemented in Bangladesh,” he said, adding that such practices amount to dishonesty and hypocrisy.

The LDP president also alleged that certain groups were acting as agents of India.
“We do not want to be India’s agents. Those who are should be identified and resisted,” he said, accusing them of attempting to compromise Bangladesh’s sovereignty for personal gain.

Reiterating his stance, Oli Ahmed said,
“We will not act as slaves of Modi or Amit Shah. The people of Bangladesh will decide how the country will be run.”

Earlier, on Sunday (December 28), the LDP and the National Citizens Party (NCP) formally joined the Jamaat-led eight-party alliance, expanding it into a 10-party alliance.

END/SMA/AJ