Jamaat, other Islamist parties working to form election alliance

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami is working to form an alliance with a number of political parties, including some Islamic ones, to contest the upcoming parliamentary election.
After a recent meeting between Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus and BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman in London, where they agreed on February next year as a possible date for holding the national polls, the political parties have started preparations for the elections.
Like some other parties, Jamaat’s election preparation is in full swing and it has already completed primary selection of its candidates in all the 300 constituencies across the country to contest the polls.

“We will finalise the list later as we are working to form an alliance,” Jamaat Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar told the Daily Sun.
“We are holding discussions with some political parties, including some Islamic ones, to form an alliance or reach an understanding to contest the polls,” the Jamaat leader added.
Golam Parwar also denied that there is any possibility of making a coalition with their previous ally – the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) – for the polls.
Sources said so far, six political groups, including five registered Islamist parties, have agreed to contest the elections together with a single candidate for each constituency. The parties include Jamaat-e-Islami, Islami Andolan Bangladesh, Khelafat Majlis, Jamiat-e-Ulama-e-Islam, and Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis. In addition, the unregistered party Nizam-e-Islam Party is also in the process of forming the alliance.

Talking to the Daily Sun, Jamaat-e-Islami Assistant Secretary General AHM Hamidur Rahman Azad said currently the issue of seat sharing is on the table.
“In principle, we have reached a consensus among the parties which were involved in the antifascist movement and which practice Islamic politics to form an alliance,” he added.
The Jamaat leader said they will formally announce the alliance just before the general election.
He said currently they are discussing who will give concessions in which seats, how many seats will be given to which party, and what will be the nature of compromise if an alliance is formed. All these will be finalised based on a consensus. The issues will become clear only when the election time comes.
‘Currently everyone deciding on their own candidates’
Islami Andolan Bangladesh (IAB) Secretary General Principal Hafej Maulana Yunus Ahmed said “Our talk is going on with six political parties to form an alliance. We will discuss it with many more parties. We will nominate candidates for all the 300 constituencies based on mutual understanding.”
He further said currently everyone is deciding on their party’s candidates for different seats. “If there is a compromise, the candidates will be withdrawn. We basically want an agreement on electoral seats between the Islamic parties. This could be an alliance of compromise.”
The IAB leader further said no party will remain in the leading position of the coalition but all will be equal part of the alliance based on mutual understanding.
The party sources said the formation of alliance will be confirmed after the announcement of the election schedule. They are also trying to bring the National Citizen Party (NCP) and Gana Odhikar Parishad to the coalition.
Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis Secretary General Jalaluddin Ahmed also said they are working to form an alliance of Islamist parties of the country to contest the polls.
“We have formed a liaison committee of five parties—Islami Andolan Bangladesh, Khelafat Majlish, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish, Jamiat-e-Ulama-e-Islam, and Nizam-e-Islam Party. We will hold a meeting on 25 June to decide the strategy for fielding candidates,” he said.
Jalaluddin Ahmed further said they will sit in talks with all the Islamist parties, organisations and Pirs who believe in Islamist ideology to bring together under one platform. “Finally we will join the Jamaat-e-Islami before the polls.”
Insiders said the Jamaat leaders have already held a series of meetings with the political parties to form the alliance and they are now discussing the issue of seat sharing with other parties.
Sources said the Islamist parties’ primary target is to garner votes for the candidates nominated by the alliance. The structure of the alliance will be such that all the parties will nominate one candidate for a seat, and the contestant will be considered a candidate of the alliance. Everyone else will fight for him in the election field.
For the upcoming national elections, Jamaat leaders and activists at all levels are going through a busy time. The primarily selected candidates and central leaders are using various strategies to approach voters in their respective areas.
They are also holding meetings and rallies on various issues, mainly making promises one after another, to gain the trust of the voters. The leaders are also announcing what initiatives they will take to build a democratic Bangladesh if they come to power through the national elections.
Golam Parwar on Monday said, “Efforts are underway to build a greater unity by reaching an agreement between Islamic political parties so that no one can destroy the country’s ideals and values.”