Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, the party that sided with Pakistan during Bangladesh’s 1971 Liberation War, has internal disagreements on whether to file their candidates using BNP’s symbol or not in the upcoming general elections.
Jamaat, which is no more a legal political party registered under the Election Commission, is a core component of the BNP-led 20 party alliance.
A total of 85 candidates from the party will be contesting in the polls, including 25 of them competing in polls under the ‘paddy sheaf’ symbol of BNP, while the rest will be competing as independent candidates, Jamaat leaders told the Dhaka Tribune.
Some 17-18 Jamaat candidates were elected members of parliament in the 1986 and 1991 elections. In 2001 election, Jamaat contested for 31 seats as part of the Four-Party Alliance – 30 seats were with the alliance and one seat was contested for the party. However, the popularity of those candidates in the constituencies remains the same as in the past, said the party’s senior leaders.
In the 2008 elections, the party contested for four seats under the party banner though it cleared 39 seats for the alliance.
Thus, the party is filing those candidates who are qualified, popular, and honest candidates, and those having public support to compete in the 11th parliamentary polls slated for December 30, they added.
Among the popular names that received BNP’s ticket are convicted war criminal Delwar Hossain Sayedee’s son, Shamim Sayedee in Pirojpur 1, and former lawmakers Professor Mia Golam Parwar in Khulna 5, Farid Uddin Chowdhury in Sylhet 5, Syed Abdullah Md Taher in Comilla 11, ANM Shamsul Islam in Chittagong 15, and Hamidur Rahman Azad in Cox's Bazar 2.
Executed war criminal Motiur Rahman Nizami’s son Nazibur Rahman will be contesting from Pabna 1 as an independent candidate.
“We are still popular across Bangladesh. Since our registration has been canceled, we will take part in the polls for 25 seats under the BNP-led coalition. However, considering the organizational strength, we will file another 60 candidates as independent ones before the last day of withdrawal of nomination papers,” Matiur Rahman Akand, organizing secretary of Jamaat, told The Dhaka Tribune.
Responding to a query on what are the criteria for shortlisting candidates, he said experienced leaders who are popular for their honesty will be given preference.
Citing an example, he said their candidates secured victory in 203 upazilas in the upazila parishad elections of 2014 because of their popularity.
“Our candidates are not young. Shafikul Islam Masud will be competing from Baufol of Patuakhali who is about 40 years old and is the youngest candidate. The rest are experienced,” he added.
When asked on whether they are hopeful, he said they are looking for justice.
“We have worked across Bangladesh neutrally to serve people. If there is a fair election, we will get 18-20 seats like in the 1986 and 1991 elections,” he expected.
However the Jamaat leader said it is the responsibility of the Election Commission to hold a credible poll.
“As of now, the commission has not been able to ensure a level playing field although less than a month remains till the polls. If there is proper preparation, the elections will be fair and normal, which is an expectation of all political parties,” he said.
Jamaat central leader, advocate Ehsanul Mahbub Jubayer, said they will finalize the number of total candidates on December 9, but it is likely to be set at a total of 85.
The senior Jamaat leader said most of their candidates will be new faces, but all of them are experienced enough.
A number of Jamaat’s top leaders have been convicted of war crimes by a special tribunal set up by the Awami League-led government in 2010. Several senior figures have been executed since then.
