New Delhi: Bangladesh Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia is facing a revolt within her party. A group of dissidents have quit the BNP and formed the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).
The LDP leaders say they left the BNP because it had become a family dynasty that promoted corruption and harboured Islamist terrorists.
They are joined by about 25 other BNP leaders over the weekend.
Khaleda Zia handed over power to a caretaker authority but the ruling and the main Opposition parties remain at loggerheads over the government's choice to lead the caretaker administration.
The desertion came just a day before the national Parliament stands dissolved on Friday on completion of its five-year term as the country heads towards general elections slated in January 2006.
Prime Minister Khaleda Zia will address the nation on Friday to mark the completion of her five years in the office and hand over power soon to a non-party caretaker government that would supervise the new elections.
Those who deserted BNP include former Speaker Sheikh Razzak Ali, State Minister Alamgir Kabir MP, Deputy Minister Moni Swapan Dewan MP, PM's Advisor to Primary and Mass Education Ministry Prof Zahanara Begum, former State Minister Major Gen (retd) Anawarul Kabir Talukdar MP and Barrister Ziaur Rahman MP.
LDP's president Prof Badruddoza Chowdhury and executive president Col (Retd) Oli Ahmed formally announced the new party with mission to fight against corruption, terrorism and poverty.
''Present BNP under the autocratic leadership of Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and her son Tareque Rahman is champion for extreme corruption and inefficiency,'' Col Ahmed said, explaining the reasons behind their desertion of BNP to form a new political party.
With Agency inputs
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