14-party alliance finalises seat sharing today

---

The 14-party alliance appears set to finalise the issue of seat sharing among its allies today (Tuesday) with its preparations to contest the December 18 polls gathering momentum, reports UNB.
The alliance leaders are saying that the 14-party coalition's main focus this time will be on ensuring political and ideological victory in the polls.
Keeping in mind the coalition's infighting over seat sharing last time, the alliance leaders this time have been more careful about any possible internal wrangling over it.
To expedite the seat-sharing process, the 14-party sat Monday for the second phase meeting at the Dhanmondi office of Awami League (AL) chief Sheikh Hasina with its presidium member Amir Hossain Amu in the chair.
The alliance leaders at the meeting said whatever the decisions came from the coalition on seat sharing, all parties would accept those unanimously.
While briefing journalists after the meeting, Amu said the discussions among the 14-party allies were going on in a very friendly manner and all were eagerly waiting to contest the election unitedly.
Amu reiterated the alliance's decision Sunday that the general election scheduled for December 18 could not be deferred under any circumstances. "The nation doesn't want to see any dilly-dallying about the parliamentary polls."
Amu also demanded deferment of the upazila polls by 45 days as the 14-party thought that many untoward incidents could take place if the local-body elections were held as per the announced schedule. "The date for the upazila polls is not realistic," he commented.
Asked about the much-talked-about grand alliance, Amu said the 14-party was their main coalition. "If any other democratic political party wants to join us, the final decision will be taken through discussions with our leader Sheikh Hasina."
Later replying to questions, Workers Party president Rashed Khan Menon and Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) President Hasanul Haque Inu ruled out the possibility of any misunderstanding among the allies over the seat-sharing issue.
"In this general election, we all partners of the 14-party alliance will give emphasis on political achievements. So, I don't think that there will be any misunderstanding among us over seat sharing," Inu said.
Workers Party president Rashed Khan Menon said the 14-party alliance would work as a unit so that no dissatisfaction was created in a particular party over seat sharing.
AL presidium members Abdur Razzak, Tofail Ahmed, Suranjit Sengupta and Matia Chowdhury, Enamul Haq of National Awami Party (NAP), Haji Abdus Samad of Gana Azadi League, Asit Baran Roy of Communist Kendra, Jakir Hosain of Ganatantrik Majdur Party, Nurul Islam of Ganatantri Party and Dilip Barua of Sammyabadi Dal were present at the meeting.
Meanwhile, Awami League started distributing nomination letters among its selected candidates for the December 18 polls. Party president Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the distribution of nomination letters at Sudha Sadan in the morning as it has finalised the nominations for its own party candidates against the all 300 parliamentary seats. But, the list was not being published to avoid any confusion with its allies in the 14-party coalition.
Awami League and the 14-party have decided to wait until the eleventh hour of the withdrawal date of nomination paper to finally declare its election candidates, according to sources in the party.