The leaders of the 14 party alliance yesterday vowed to revive the grand alliance combined with all the pro-liberation political parties for defeating the anti-liberation and communal forces in the upcoming parliamentary elections.

The top leaders of the alliance categorically said that they would work together under the banner of grand alliance to defeat the BNP-Jamaat alliance in December election by all means.

The leaders expressed this determination at a Iftar Party organised by Awami League (AL) at a community center as part of election preparation.

Asked about the process of grand alliance Ashraful Islam, acting general secretary of AL, said, " The grand alliance has been formed long time ago. After returning of our party chief Sheikh Hasina we will finalise all the issues regarding the grand alliance. Then some parties may be excluded and some more added."

About the chill in the relation between Awami League and Gano Forum following Dr Kamal Hossain's negative remarks about Sheikh Hasina few months back, Islam said Awami League has some problem with Dr Kamal Hossain as an individual, but not with the Gano Forum as a party.

AL presidium member Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury said, " We all the pro-liberation forcers have met together to discuss how to face the anti-liberation forces."

Expressing solidarity with Sajeda, Jatiya Party Chairman

Hossain Mohammad Ershad said, " We have met together here to fight against the evil forces who played controversial role during the liberation war."

When asked who are the evil forces, he said, the BNP-Jamaat alliance, which tried to destroy the country during its rule.

About joining to the Four-party alliance he said, " I am responsible to my conscience. That is why I can not join the four-party alliance."

Former President Badaruddoja Chowdhury, also Chairman of Bikalpo Dhara Bangladesh (BDB), expressed his firm confidence in formation of the grand alliance with all the non-communal forces to fight against the evil forces.

"A grand, grand, grand alliance will be formed! We are surely going to attain the victory," said B Chowdhury.

"We are known to AL since long. Grand alliance is not a new initiative. we are mulling over this issue for the last two years," Chowdhury pointed out.

Hasanul Haque Inu, president of Jatiya Samajtrantik Dal (JSD)said, " We all the pro-liberation political parties will have to extend helping hand to each other to keep the BNP-jamaat alliance out of power."

Rashed Khan Memon President of Workers Party said, "We all together will do everything to defeat the BNP-Jamaat alliance, who made champion in corruption for five consecutive years by indulging in corruption and looting state wealth."

Gano Forum leader Pankaj Bhattacharya was also opposing alignment with the religious parties with the grand alliance, saying: "Only opposing the Jamaat cannot be the identity of a progressive political party."

AL presidium member Amir Hossain Amu,Tofail Ahmed, Begum Matia Chowdhury, were also present.

Acting president of the AL Zillur Rahman was not present at the function, as he was out of Dhaka.

Jatiya Party (Manju) secretary general Sheikh Shahid, was also present.

Mahi B Chowdhury, son of Badaruddoza Chowdhury and Maj (retd) Abdul Mannan, secretary general of BDB, were also present.

Shaikh Razzak Ali and Prof Jahanara Begum of Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Gano Forum presidium member Pankaj Bhattacharya, Bangladesh Islami Oikya Jote chairman Misbaur Rahman, Islamic Front of Bangladesh (IFB) chairman Syed Bahadur Shah and vice-chairman

Khandaker Golam Maola, among others, attended the function.