For the upcoming municipality elections, several leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami, who does not have a working registration with the Election Commission, have filed nominations as independent candidates.
Yesterday, the last day for submitting and withdrawing party nominations, at least 15 local leaders have dropped their papers as independent candidates.
Jamaat, often blamed for committing crimes against humanity as a party in 1971, is the second biggest partner in the BNP-led 20-party alliance.
Although BNP has left two mayoral posts to two of its smaller partners in the alliance, the party has yet to make any decision regarding leaving seats to Jamaat.
Advocate Abdul Majid, Khulna district assistant general secretary of Jamaat, submitted nomination for the Paikgachha municipality.
Jamaat leader Niamul Hasan has submitted documents for the Boalmari municipality mayor, Sheikh Nurul Huda for Sathkhira municipality, Sheikh Iman Ali for Kolaroa municipality and Jahirul Islam Manik for Narsingdi municipality.
Monohardi upazila Jamaat’s Nayeb-e-Ameer Amzad Hossain submitted nomination the for that municipality, municipality unit Jamaat chief Makbul Hossain for the Jhaldhaka, municipality unit Jamaat chief Golam Muntakim for the Syedpur, Ferdous Alam for Gaibandha municipality, Abul Kalam Azad for Gobindaganj, municipality unit Jamaat Secretary Forhat Jamil for Pangsha, city unit Jamaat chief Hasibul Alam for Joypurhat municipality, Oliullah for Kanaighat, Johrul Islam Badsha for Kahalu and Nazrul Islam for Naldanga municipality.
In August 2013, the High Court declared Jamaat’s registration illegal as the party’s charter had provisions that contradicted the constitution of the country and the Representation of the People’s Order Act.