From roadside tea stalls to major informal discussions, the unraveling of the 20-party alliance, the country’s second biggest political platform led by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), through keeping the Jamaat-e-Islami aside, has become a common topic of discussion now.
They initially began in 1998 as the four-party alliance and grew in the last two and a half decades. During this long journey, the BNP has faced uncomfortable situations one after another due to its alliance with Jamaat, especially after the verdicts of the war crimes trials and violence.
While the call for severing ties with the Jamaat led to many discussions, no one from the two parties has ever clearly indicated quitting their long-time partnership.
But the recent comments of Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman on an ineffective alliance with the BNP, which he made in an internal meeting, are now making many things clear.
Insiders confirmed that both the parties have recently formally discussed keeping a non-functional alliance as also whether or not to continue with it.
Some mid-level leaders of the Jamaat said that a policy decision has been taken by the party to the effect that the Jamaat will leave the 20-party alliance before the date of the upcoming national election is announced.
Jamaat leaders think that the BNP has not been evaluating the alliance properly. If that sentiment grows, the decision to not stay in the alliance will become clearer.
The statement by the Jamaat chief, which went viral on social media, notes that such an ineffective alliance cannot continue for years. It was an alliance till 2006. On October 28, 2006, the coalition failed to fulfill its obligations.
This statement indicates that the BNP and Jamaat are going to have a final split about the alliance.
However, senior leaders of the party say that the speech was a criticism of the BNP's alliance process, which does not refer to not being in the alliance.
Jamaat Central Publicity Affairs Secretary and Central Executive Committee Member Matiur Rahman Akanda told Dhaka Tribune that the party ameer's speech was not official.
“The official statement will come in the form of a notification. We have not decided to break the alliance yet,” he added.
Jamaat Assistant Secretary General Maulana Abdul Halim said the statement has not been presented correctly. The party chief has expressed his opinion that the BNP is not giving due importance to the alliance.
“The Jamaat is with the BNP in alliance; it has not left the alliance. However, there was no meeting of the alliance for a long year,” he added.
Jamaat is preparing for elections
The Jamaat is preparing to field candidates in 300 constituencies in the upcoming parliamentary elections. Since the party lost its registration, it will field independent candidates as a strategy in this case.
Talking to several leaders of Jamaat hints that the fact that they will not be in the 20-party alliance in the next election, which appears to be almost final. However, due to strategic reasons, they are not announcing the split of this alliance.
A leader said that there will be a strong discussion regarding seats in the next election with the BNP “because we do not want to be discriminated against. The Jamaat will seek 100 seats from the BNP. Otherwise, the Jamaat will take part in the election separately.
Jamaat central committee leader Advocate Ehsanul Mahbub Jubayer said, “We are still in the coalition but many things become polarized ahead of the election. We will do a simultaneous movement.”
BNP leaving Jamaat?
After being in alliance for 22 years, is the bond between the BNP and the Jamaat going to loosen? In response to this question, a top leader of the BNP said the Jamaat Ameer's statement is very embarrassing for the BNP.
He said the video of the speech is being reviewed. The High Command will decide on this. A letter will also be prepared seeking to know the reason for this statement.
The BNP top brass have said their ties with the Jamaat will not be hampered and it is strictly a political link, not an ideological one.
Standing Committee Member Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain said, “They (Jamaat) expressed their position in their speech. Now we will discuss the matter in the forum. Then I will inform you about the decision. Anything can be based on this.”
Although BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir did not make any clear comments on this matter, he said that only time will tell who will be in the alliance and who will not be.
On January 6, 1999, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia formed a four-party alliance with Jatiya Party Chairman and military strongman General HM Ershad, Jamaat's then ameer Ghulam Azam and Islami Oikya Jote Chairman Shaikhul Hadis Azizul Haque. Over time, it has expanded to a 20-party alliance.
Ershad and Azizul Haque left the alliance. However, despite criticism, the BNP never agreed to leave the Jamaat.
The BNP formed another alliance called Jatiya Oikya Front before the last parliamentary elections. The subject of the BNP leaving the Jamaat has come up many times.
