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Published : 14 Jan 2026, 10:55 PM
The 11-party alliance led by Jamaat-e-Islami, formed to consolidate the Islamist vote into a "single box", has hit a deadlock over seat-sharing negotiations.
Despite consecutive days of meetings, a consensus remains elusive.
Jamaat had initially planned to hold a media briefing on Wednesday following a joint session with all allied parties to officially announce the alliance's candidate list.
The briefing, however, was abruptly postponed, according to Jamaat Assistant Secretary General AHM Hamidur Rahman Azad.
The Jamaat leader, however, did not comment on the reasons behind the sudden postponement.
Meanwhile, Islami Andolan spokesperson Gazi Ataur Rahman said a sense of "mistrust" over Jamaat has begun to take root.
Speaking to the media, he explained that internal "rifts" within the new 11-party Islamist alliance have emerged due to fears that Jamaat might adopt the role previously played by the Jatiya Party in the parliament -- a move he fears could worsen the country’s situation.
Islami Andolan Bangladesh and Amar Bangladesh Party (AB Party) have already hinted that they may ultimately leave the alliance if they do not get their expected seats and if consensus on principles is not reached.
The 13th general election and a referendum will be held on Feb 12. Following the scrutiny of nomination papers, the Election Commission is currently resolving appeals. The final list of candidates will be announced on Jan 20.
Eight religion-based parties converged in the alliance with the demand for parliamentary polls under the proportional representation (PR) system and a referendum before the general election.
The parties were Jamaat-e-Islami, Islami Andolan Bangladesh, Khelafat Majlis, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis, Bangladesh Khelafat Andolon, Bangladesh Nezam-e-Islam Party, Jatiya Ganatantrik Party (JAGPA), and Bangladesh Development Party (BDP).
As the parliamentary elections approached, the alliance began taking shape, with the National Citizen Party (NCP), Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), and AB Party announcing their entry into the coalition around the time of nomination submission.
Media reports have highlighted differences over seat-sharing among the coalition partners ever since. Jamaat has nominated candidates for 276 seats, while Islami Andolan for 268. Reports in the media suggest Islami Andolan expects to get 150 seats instead of the 35 offered as the alliance partner.
Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis are not happy with 13 seats assigned against their expectation to get 50 constituencies. Khelafat Majlis will contest only five seats despite asking for more than 25, while Nezam-e-Islam and Khelafat Andolon have two seats each, and BDP and JAGPA have one seat each.
The NCP had initially demanded over 50 seats, but an agreement was reached for 30, with the final settlement still pending.
Islami Andolan spokesperson Ataur spoke candidly about the "rift”, questioning Jamaat’s true intentions. He cited a recent meeting between the Jamaat chief and BNP leader Tarique Rahman, where they discussed forming a government together post-election.
"This has created doubt for us," Ataur said. "Will Jamaat-e-Islami play a role similar to the Jatiya Party which was in government with the Awami League while simultaneously acting as the opposition. We fear Jamaat might be moving towards a similar design."
He noted that the "platform of unity" Jamaat spoke of -- originally established by the late Khaleda Zia – had effectively collapsed during her lifetime.
While acknowledging that negotiations are ongoing, Ataur emphasised that the issue was about respect rather than just numbers.
"We are independent actors; we will not accept anything imposed upon us," he said. "If anyone treats us with injustice or neglect, we cannot take it lightly. Everyone has self-respect. If a relationship is not built on goodwill and respect, walking the same path becomes difficult."
On the future of "One Box Policy", he said the party is consulting its nationwide leadership and holding talks with other political parties. "We haven't reached a conclusion yet. We want to be rational and will analyse the overall national situation before moving forward."
