As Bangladesh anticipates free, fair and neutral polls following the fall of the Awami League regime, several top political leaders have already held multiple meetings with Dr Muhammad Yunus, chief adviser of the interim government, urging him to hold a general election promptly.
Although the government has yet to announce a date, the BNP is already crafting its election strategy.
The party is pushing for the formation of a national government based on consensus. As part of this plan, it is rallying allies from its simultaneous anti-Awami League movement.
Sources in the BNP say the party may form an alliance with its movement partners for the next election.
The party’s acting chairman, Tarique Rahman, also hinted at this intention in a recent speech, where he emphasized running the country through a national government.
Joining a party rally virtually from London, he said: “After independence, the opportunity to harness the strength of national unity was missed. We do not want to repeat that mistake in the future. Those who have participated in the struggle to restore democracy and voting rights for the people of this country will also have a role in running the country, so that the nation is not deprived of the fruits of their efforts.”
According to reports, the BNP and various parties and alliances launched the first program of the simultaneous movement on December 30, 2022.
After that, they carried out different activities with dwindling resources until the fall of the Awami League government this August.
Multiple alliances and parties, including Ganatantra Mancha and the 12-party alliance, took part in the joint movement under the BNP’s leadership. Besides, the Liberal Democratic Party led by Oli Ahmad, the AB Party, the Gono Forum and two factions of the Gono Odhikar Parishad were also involved.
BNP sources indicate that the party aims to maintain unity with its movement allies, as in the past, and plans to join the upcoming electoral battle alongside them.
BNP leaders have already held separate meetings with them to convey this message.
However, negotiations with the BNP will likely continue on their demands.
The BNP has assured these parties of their inclusion in the national government if they remain in alliance, and the parties have shown interest in moving forward together, maintaining trust in the BNP, sources say.
What do party leaders say?
When asked about an alliance with the BNP, Gono Odhikar Parishad General Secretary Rashed Khan said the BNP and other allies had played a crucial role in the movement to overthrow the Awami League government. “Now the BNP is talking about forming a national government. Tarique Rahman personally favours young leaders, and we have a good relationship with the BNP. There is a possibility of taking part in the election together.”
“If our current unity holds, a national government could be formed through the election,” he added.
In a similar tone, Shahid Uddin Mahmud Swapan, general secretary of the Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD), said: “We are aligned with the BNP based on its 31-point agenda for state reform. In the past, we fought together in the anti-fascist movement, and our journey continues.
“However, elections are not happening very soon in the current situation. An electoral alliance is a different matter. Since we have fought together, there is a chance to contest the election together as well. We recently held a dialogue with the BNP, where this issue came up.”
BNP Standing Committee Member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, when asked about the alliance, said the BNP wanted to move forward with all the parties that had fought against the Awami League regime.
“Everyone stands together. A series of meetings took place with the simultaneous movement allies just a few days ago. There, the message from acting chairman Tarique Rahman was conveyed – that if the BNP wins, a national government will be formed with everyone.
“Our movement continues to demand fair elections under a non-partisan government. This will remain until a government elected by the people is in place.”
Complicated relationship with Jamaat
Meanwhile, despite the possibility of the BNP forming an electoral alliance with anti-Awami League opposition parties, the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami is unlikely to be part of this bloc.
Differences between the BNP and Jamaat have become visible since Sheikh Hasina’s ouster.
Jamaat Amir Dr Shafiqur Rahman and other top leaders have taken positions opposed to those of the BNP regarding the interim government and have harshly criticized the party.
Disputes over election-related matters have also emerged, generating negative reactions within the BNP.
The Jamaat first formed an alliance with the BNP in 1999 and the alliance contested the 2001 general election as a coalition, which led to the formation of the government.
Their alliance remained intact during the 2008 election.
Despite ups and downs, the alliance did not break for a long while. From 2013 to 2015, the BNP and Jamaat jointly waged movements against the erstwhile Awami League government.
During the 2018 election, Jamaat leaders, having lost their party’s registration, contested under the BNP’s symbol.
However, their relationship began to sour after the election, and the two parties officially parted ways in 2022.
Nevertheless, they maintained covert unity during the movement to oust the Awami League from power.
Then after the Awami League’s fall, the BNP and Jamaat's differences became apparent again.
BNP leaders believe that Jamaat has deliberately distanced itself from the party. According to them, Jamaat has become increasingly ambitious since August 5, competing with the BNP to expand influence on the ground and appoint party-backed professionals in government positions.
Under these circumstances, the BNP is planning its election strategy without the Jamaat.
With the former ally becoming a political rival and the potential for a new political alliance led by the Jamaat, the BNP is coordinating with other political parties to win seats and move toward forming a national government.
Jamaat Publicity Secretary Motiur Rahman Akand said his party would decide whether to form an alliance with other Islamic parties after the election date was announced. “Our position on the BNP is the same. Nothing can be said for sure right now.”
Meanwhile, Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury said the Jamaat, as an independent political party, was conducting its activities according to its agenda.
“Whether or not to form an electoral alliance depends on time and circumstances.”