Bangladesh Islamist groups plan new alliances for next election

Islamist parties in Bangladesh are planning new alliances for the next election as hardliners like Hifazat-e Islam 'form close ties' with the ruling Awami League.

Sumon Mahmud Chief Political Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 28 April 2017, 06:09 AM
Updated : 28 April 2017, 12:45 PM

Their leaders claimed all major parties were bringing them offers before the 2019 election.

A section of these parties that have so far been allies of the BNP were now planning to contest the polls separately.

The BNP that faced criticism for keeping ties with 'parties that politicise religion' was now turning up the heat on arch rival Awami League.

The Jatiya Party was also working to gather support from Islamist leaders for a new alliance.

Islamist parties are a huge factor in electoral politics, Abdul Latif Nizami, who heads a faction of the Islami Oikya Jote, told bdnews24.com.

"You'll notice the plans made by big parties before every election. There is one reason, the vote bank formed by our Alem-Olamas (Islamic scholars) across the country."

It was more important for these leaders to participate in Parliament than establishing rule on religion. 

Abdul Latif Nizami

"Those of us with the BNP, are we not with them for the votes?" said Mufti Abdur Rob Yusufi, another leader of the Islami Oikya Jote.

"BNP doesn't Islamic rule in its party charter. But we'll manage to get some MPs in Parliament if we stay with the 20-Party it heads."

Yusufi's Jamiat e Ulama e Islam was in the 20-Party alliance with other Islami Okiya Jote, the one headed by MA Rakib, groups like Nizam-e-Islam and Khelafate Rabbani.

Jamaat-e-Islami, the largest Islamist party in Bangladesh, was also with the BNP. Muslim League, Islamic Party and Khelafat Majlish too were also the BNP's allies.

BNP leaders said the Awami League, in its effort to weaken their alliance, was fuelling the electoral ambitions of leaders like Nizami who have talked of plans for a 'new unity'. 

"Our latest decision is to compete separately in this election. We want to be in the race for the 300 seats in Parliament," Nizami told bdnews24.com.

Islami Andolan headed by the Chormonai Peer, Zaker Party headed by the Atrashi Peer and Khalefat Andolan were still not part of any unity.

Nizami, speaking of his plans, said: "We'll make the final decision based on the situation. It will say if we can join a greater alliance, can't say now, only time will tell."

The Awami League, which had redefined itself as a secular force under the leadership of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, has only one Islamist group in its 14-Party coalition, the Sufi-based Tariqat Federation.

The government, by giving post-graduate status to the highest Qawmi madrasa degree and agreeing with hardliners who want a statue of Lady Justice removed from Supreme Court, has appeared as an ally of the Islamists, according to many leaders.

While Obaidul Quader, Awami League general secretary, claimed the moves were 'pragmatic' and served a 'large group of people', another leader Mahbub-ul Alam Hanif was more direct in explaining the party's approach.

"The BNP is complaining because it's jealous. Because the Islamist party wants to be allied to our leader (PM Sheikh Hasina)," he said.