Jamaat-e-Islami-led grand alliance sees rift ahead of Bangladesh general elections

DHAKA: A major Islamic political party announced its exit from the Jamaat-e-Islami-led grand alliance Friday, effectively ending an initiative to consolidate pro-Islamic votes in "one box" in Bangladesh's upcoming general elections.

Islami Andolan Bangladesh's senior joint secretary-general Gazi Ataur Rahman told reporters that his party has decided to quit the 11-party alliance after being "deprived of justice" regarding seat allocations. He also accused the Jamaat-led grouping of "deviating from Islamic ideals". "The Bangladesh Islami Andolan will take part in the election on its own. We will contest in 268 (out of 300) seats," Ataur Rahman said, adding that in the rest of the seats they would cast votes to "eligible" candidates.




Ataur Rahman said the Jamaat chief spoke about settling matters with the Bangladesh Nationalist Party's Chairman Tarique Rahman, without holding any discussion with the Islami Andolan. The announcement formally ended Andolan's participation in the Jamaat-led alliance.

The development came a day after the grand alliance meeting decided to allocate 179 seats to Jamaat and 30 to student-led National Citizen Party, leaving 47 vacant for Islami Andolan, which boycotted the meeting."We were astonished to hear Jamaat Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman clearly state that if they come to power, they will govern the country according to existing laws (instead of Islamic Sharia)," Ataur Rahman said.

Rahman alleged that the Jamaat came to an understanding ahead of polls, creating concerns "if it will be a staged election". "Jamaat's slogan was 'we want Allah's law, we want rule of honest people.' But now that an environment for their coming to power emerged, they are retreating from that position and prioritising power," he said.