B Chy likely to float 'platform' instead of political party

A close aide to the former president told the agency yesterday that Badruddoza would start formal dialogue with political leaders, professional groups, businesspeople and the elite towards the end of this month, with the opening of his office tentatively on December 16.

Moreover, he is planning to circulate a questionnaire to elicit opinion from cross-sections of people on key problems facing the nation. The problems include corruption, terrorism and issues relating to good governance.

Despite repeated requests from the people he met, Badruddoza would not form a political party at this moment rather concentrate more on the convergence of people on a platform and spelling out precise guidelines before the nation to help resolve the burning issues.

As part of informal consultations, some former BNP leaders, including ex-ministers and MPs, and businessmen and chartered accountants met him yesterday and exchanged views on the prevailing situation.

On January 6, the former president would meet with Supreme Court Bar leaders and discuss the current situation and seek their opinions.

Political observers feel that though Prof Badruddoza Chowdhury and Dr Kamal Hossain have undertaken similar initiatives they are both maintaining a safe distance.

Although Badruddoza openly stated that if invited he would attend the proposed national convention to be called by Dr Kamal Hossain, it is less likely that the two leaders will mount one platform at this juncture.

Dr Kamal is now abroad. It is to be seen if the two leaders sit across the table or pick up telephones to discuss their initiatives.

Meanwhile, both ruling BNP and opposition Awami League are closely scrutinising various statements of Prof Badruddoza and Dr Kamal Hossain and their future programmes.

Some analysts say that mobilisation of the dissenting section of the civil society will help strengthen the opposition's future anti-government agitation, but Awami League strategists will not accept Prof Badruddoza or Dr Hossain taking the lead.

Keeping it in mind, Awami League president Sheikh Hasina has decided to spell out her party's action programme from her party's planned rally at Paltan Maidan on January 10.