Uncertainty over elections in Bangladesh is not deterring the Islamist parties from coming together with the aim of bringing all “Islamist votes into one box”.
A report in the English language Dhaka Tribune says even as they strive for unity or a grand alliance, they also hope to ally with the BNP of Khaleda Zia, and reap some electoral gain.
Parties affiliated with the Hefazat-e-Islam (Khelafat Majlis, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish, Jamaat-Ulema-e-Islam and Nizam-e-Islam) have agreed on the need to work together.
Secretary-general Yunus Ahmad declared “Whatever the five parties do, we will do it together. If we ally with any party, we will all do so collectively. No one will act alone.”
The Dhaka Tribune report say they have been joined by the Islami Andolan which is in the vanguard of the demand for blasphemy laws in Bangladesh.
The broad agreement includes elections in reasonable time frame after implementing essential reforms, and putting forward only one common candidate in every constituency.
The other question is about an alliance with the BNP. The Jamaat-e-Islami is known to have had discussions on this score with the BNP leadership in London. Officially, the party says it will not consider alliances prior to the polls yet many top leaders say they intend to fight the elections in tandem with Islamist groups.
But it is in the details that the differences are visible. While Interim Leader Mohammad Yunus has indicated polls could be held anytime between December this year and June next, the BNP wants it fast-tracked to December.
The Jamaat-e-Islami and the Islamic Andolan appear to back Yunus’ timeline, and discussions with the National Citizens Party (NCP) comprising former student leaders from the anti-Hasina agitation, have left them convinced that is the way forward.
As an Islamic Party leader pointed out “The NCP is still weak. We could form an alliance with the BNP but it does not clarify whether it will concede seats. They are trying to keep us on their side with assurances. But recently, BNP leaders have begun labelling Islamists as fundamentalists. We will not be used any longer.”
All that the BNP acknowledges is that “We want to keep various Islamist parties close, even those outside our movement. That is why we continue these discussions.”
For now the only consensus gaining seems to focused on keeping the Awami League out of the electoral fray, which if it succeeds, could well see the BNP emerge victorious.
