A group of reformist leaders and activists of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami formed the Amar Bangladesh Party (AB Party) on May 3, 2020, under the leadership of former bureaucrat AFM Solaiman Chowdhury as convener, and former Islami Chhatra Shibir president Mujibur Rahman Manju as member secretary.
The new political party has denounced Jamaat's role during the Liberation War of 1971 and aims to unite Jamaat and Shibir activists who believed in the principles of Bangladesh's liberation.
Both chief leaders of the AB Party were members of Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh's central policymaking body, the Majlis-e-Shura.
Jamaat expelled Mujibur Rahman for his opinions over the party's role in the Liberation War of 1971 and his demands for reforms within the party, while Solaiman Chowdhury left the party over differences of opinion on Jamaat's reformation.
Former Jamaat assistant secretary general and international wing chief Barrister Abdur Razzaq is also now with the AB Party.
After being expelled from Jamaat On April 27, 2019, Mujibur Rahman formed the platform “Jana Akhankhar Bangladesh” and said they would announce the formation of a new political party within three months. The new party was eventually announced after almost a year.
On February 14, 2019, Abdur Razzaq resigned from Jamaat.
AB Party convener Solaiman Chowdhury is a former secretary of the government. He was the president of Jatiya Peshajibi Forum, an association of professionals of Jamaat-e-Islami.
He came into the spotlight as Feni deputy commissioner during Khaleda Zia's government in 2001 for conducting raids against former Awami League MP Joynal Hazari.
He competed as a candidate of Jamaat-e-Islami from Comilla-9 constituency in the 11th parliamentary elections.
Mujibur Rahman Manju was the central president of Islami Chhatra Shibir, the student body of Jamaat-e-Islami. He also was the deputy executive director of the now-defunct Diganta Television, which was known as a media outlet of Jamaat.
Major (Retd) Abdul Wahab Minar and Tajul Islam, who has been a lawyer for Jamaat leaders, are joint conveners of the AB Party.
While talking with Dhaka Tribune, AB Party leaders said the party would follow three principles of the Liberation War of Bangladesh -- equality, human dignity, and social justice.
The party was formed through the announcement of a 222-member committee of conveners, most of whom were involved with the Jamaat-e-Islami and Islami Chhatra Shibir. AB Party now has convening committees in 48 districts and 150 upazilas of Bangladesh, and has applied to the Election Commission for registration as a political party.
The Election Commission is yet to approve the party's registration.
The AB Party is working with a seven-point agenda and aims to ensure national consensus, democratic and fundamental rights, increase motivation, research and development, flourish leadership, enact social and state reforms, and form a welfare state.
When asked about its ties with BNP and Jamaat, AB Party leaders said they have a very bad relationship with Jamaat as Jamaat leaders have been spreading propaganda against AB Party by saying the party wants to exploit Jamaat's ideology.
AB Party also maintains a distance from the BNP as BNP is among the electoral allies of Jamaat.
The party leaders say the Awami League is also not welcoming the AB party, claiming the government has been making obstacles to their political programs on some occasions.
Mujibur Rahman Manju said the AB Party has a good relationship with political parties other than the Awami League, BNP, and Jamaat.
As an example, he said Mostofa Mohsin Montu, Gono Forum president, Mahmudur Rahman Manna, president of Nagorik Oikko, VP Nurul Haque Nur, member secretary of Gono Odhikar Parishad, Major (Retd) Akhtaruzzaman, Golam Sarwar Milon, former state minister, Taimur Alom Khondoker, columnist Gautom Dash, professor Mozaharul Hoque, former WHO public health expert, Ishtiaq Aziz Ulfat, president of BNP freedom fighters wing, Advocate Muhsin Rashid, Advocate Shah Alam Badol of Bikolpodhara, Advocate Shubroto Chowdhury of Gono Forum, Ashraf Ali Akon of Islami Andolon Bangladesh, professor Abdul Latif Masum, former VC of Patuakhali Science and Technology University, Professor Arif Billah of DU Farsi dept, Major (Retd) Amsa Amin of Naitik Shomaj, Iqtider Ahmed, former register of the Supreme Court, Bobby Hajjaj of NDM and M Enamul Hoque all attended the AB Party's third anniversary on May 3, 2023.
Professor Abul Kashem Fazlul Hoque, Ahmed Sharif chair at Dhaka University and convenor of committee for the protection of Bangla Language, inaugurated the four-day long anniversary events across the country at AB party's central office, which is located at Bijoynagar in the capital.
AB Party leaders said they are ready to field candidates for 30 seats at the moment and are preparing to field 150 candidates across the country in the next parliamentary election.
Party leaders also said they want a non-partisan election-time government, and that they would not participate in polls under a partisan government.
As a “moderate party,” AB party leaders have held discussions with other moderate political parties of the UK, the USA, Turkey and Malaysia, and its member secretary claimed they have a good relationship, with them and their party included some principles from other moderate parties of the world.
When asked about its religious stance, AB party leaders said their party believes in religious freedom for everyone.
“We are facing some hurdles as we do not have the blessings of Awami League, BNP, or Jamaat, but we will get a better position in future because of our rights-based political activities,” Mujibur Rahman Manju said.