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LDP Chairman and former minister Col. (retd.) Oli Ahmad
Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Chairman and former minister Col. (retd.) Oli Ahmad has urged the government to act with caution while time permits, warning that failure to heed early counsel will lead to severe political peril. Addressing the inaugural rally of an 11-party opposition alliance's Dhaka-Khulna-Jhenaidah-Kushtia long march outside the South Gate of the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque on Saturday morning (October 31), he stated that the Prime Minister must realize that all ultimate accountability and blame will fall solely upon his shoulders. He cautioned that those currently surrounding the seat of power will flee when danger arrives, leaving him isolated without anyone stepping forward to share responsibility.
Col. (retd.) Oli Ahmad stressed the critical need for institutional systems, observing that in developed nations in Europe and the Americas, individual changes in the presidency do not derail governance because robust administrative structures steer the state. In contrast, he alleged that Bangladesh suffers from a systemic breakdown, with district offices, district parishad premises, city corporations, and municipal bodies being effectively transformed into partisan BNP offices under the current administration. He accused ruling party figures of operating from these civic institutions to control government procurement tenders, occupy plots, and interfere in local affairs.
Drawing historical parallels, the LDP leader warned the government against repeating past political miscalculations, referencing the turbulent events of 1996 when the then-BNP administration initially resisted demands for a caretaker government system. He remarked that ignoring opposition and public demands would inevitably lead to a similar impasse, where the ruling party would eventually be forced to pass legislation overnight under intense pressure.
Advising the head of government to seek counsel from capable and knowledgeable individuals rather than inexperienced associates, he reiterated that the primary role of the parliamentary opposition is to keep the ruling party on the constitutional course for national peace and stability. The demonstration was attended by Leader of the Opposition and Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman MP, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish Ameer Maulana Mamunul Haque, Jamaat Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar, Nezame Islam Party Ameer Maulana Abdul Qayyum Subhani, AB Party Chairman Mojibur Rahman Manju, JAGPA Vice-President Engineer Rashed Pradhan, Labour Party Chairman Dr. Mostafizur Rahman Iran, Bangladesh Development Party Chairman Advocate Anwarul Islam Chan, Khelafat Andolan Secretary General Mufti Fakhrul Islam, and Islami Chhatra Shibir Central President Nurul Islam Saddam, alongside other central leaders of the 11-party alliance.
