Ahead of the upcoming Bangladesh national elections, a new party joined theJamaat-e-Islami-led electoral alliance in Dhaka. The Bangladesh Labour Party
announced the decision to join the alliance. This comes a week after an Islamic party, Islamic Movement Bangladesh, announced its exit from the electoral alliance. On Saturday, Bangladesh Labour Party (BLP) chairman Mostafizur Rahman Iran, along with Jamaat Assistant Secretary General and its National Election Management Committee Convener Maulana A T M Masum made the announcement of the BLP's entry into the alliance at a press conference here, according to the state-run news agency Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS). The Bangladesh Labour Party was included in the alliance "after discussing with the central leaders of the 10 parties," Bangla newspaper Prathom Alo quoted Jamaat-e-Islami's Masum as saying. The Labour Party believes what is needed is "not just a change of power, but a meaningful transformation of the state," its chairman Iran was quoted as saying by The Business Standard.
Islamist Parties Unite Under ‘One Box’ Policy
With the inclusion of the Bangladesh Labour party, the Jamaat-led alliance once again comprises 11 parties:
- Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami
- Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis
- Khelafat Majlis
- Bangladesh Khelafat Andolan
- Bangladesh Nezam-e-Islam Party
- Bangladesh Development Party
- Jatiya Ganatantrik Party (NDP)
- National Citizen Party (NCP)
- Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)
- AB Party
- Bangladesh Labour Party
The Islamic political groups and parties formed the grand alliance recently in an effort to consolidate the votes of their supporters under what was called the "one box policy", despite ideological differences among the parties.
Why Islamic Movement Bangladesh Quit the Jamaat Alliance
Earlier on January 16, Islamic Movement Bangladesh, also known as Islami Andolan Bangladesh, announced its exit from the Jamaat-led alliance. Islami Andolan Bangladesh's top leader Gazi Ataur Rahman had claimed that the party quit the alliance after being "deprived of justice" regarding seat allocations. He had also accused the Jamaat-led grouping of "deviating from Islamic ideals."
Jamaat-e-Islami: A Frontrunner in Bangladesh Election?
Former prime minister Khaleda Zia's Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), now being led byTarique Rahman, has emerged as the frontrunner in the changed political landscape of Bangladesh following the fall of Sheikh Hasina's Awami League-led government last year, while Jamaat-e-Islami is expected to finish second in the upcoming polls. The Jamaat has previously governed in coalition with the BNP between 2001 and 2006.
