11-party plans contingency

If the 11-party alliance is unable to agree on backing a single nominee in some constituencies, it will keep those seats “open” for its all members.

Sources in the coalition said the number of such seats could be up to 10 percent of the 300 constituencies.

Leaders of the 11 parties, including Jamaat, Islami Andolan Bangladesh, and the National Citizen Party (NCP), have been engaged in seat-sharing discussions since the first half of December but are yet to finalise a deal.

They said Jamaat leaders yesterday held meetings with Islami Andolan Bangladesh and Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish to move the talks forward. Top leaders of the coalition members are expected to meet today.

Discussions with partners are ongoing, Ahsanul Mahbub Zubayer, assistant secretary general of Jamaat, told The Daily Star.

“Ameers [top posts in Islamic parties] could meet at any time tomorrow [today]. They will finalise the constituency-wise arrangement and announce the decision.”

Maulana Jalaluddin Ahmed, secretary general of Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish, said, “Suppose we manage to reach an agreement in 260 to 270 seats but fail in 20, 30 or 40 seats. In that case, those may be kept open.”

However, he maintained that their efforts to bring the votes of those who support Islamist parties into “one box” would remain intact even if some constituencies are left open.

Asked how that would be possible, he said, “If a decision is made to keep some seats open, those who wish to field candidates will do so. About a week after campaigning begins, the popularity of all candidates will be reviewed. Everyone except the one who is ahead of all others will step aside.”

Talking to this correspondent, Khelafat Majlish Secretary General Ahmed Abdul Kader said, “So far, we have reached an agreement for 90 percent of the seats. The remaining five or 10 percent may have to be kept open. That is because two parties, and in some cases even three, want these seats. There appears to be no alternative but to keep them open. But the alliance will remain... that is certain.”

Meanwhile, several top coalition leaders have raised questions about Jamaat’s “authoritarian approach” in the seat-allocation process.

Mojibur Rahman Monju, chairman of Amar Bangladesh (AB) Party, said everyone says this is an 11-party alliance. “But so far, we have not seen the 11 parties hold a joint meeting even once. That leaves us somewhat confused.”

He said NCP and his party sought 50 seats -- 35 for NCP and 15 for AB Party. 

“Later, we saw that they [Jamaat] spoke with the NCP and with us separately. We expressed our dissatisfaction over this.”

Although there has been discussion that a meeting of the coalition’s top leaders is likely to take place today, Monju said he had not been invited as of yesterday evening.

Asked, Jamaat leader Zubayer said, “There are discussions with everyone, more or less. There is a liaison committee for seat-sharing talks, with members from eight parties. Representatives of three parties that joined the alliance recently may not be there, but contact is maintained with everyone as required.”

On September 18 last year, Jamaat, Islami Andolan, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish, Khelafat Majlish, Bangladesh Khelafat Andolan, Jatiya Ganatantrik Party (Jagpa), Nezame Islam Party and Bangladesh Development Party launched a movement, demanding the next nation election under a proportional representation system and a referendum before the polls.

As the election drew closer, talks began on turning this platform into an electoral alliance. 

On December 28, on the eve of the nomination submission deadline, NCP and LDP announced their entry into the alliance followed by AB Party the next day.

Jamaat submitted nomination papers in 276 constituencies, while Islami Andolan has done so in 268. In at least 240 seats, candidates from the two parties are facing each other.

Alliance sources said Islami Andolan Bangladesh might get 45 seats, much lower than its demand for 150. Party sources say Islami Andolan Bangladesh leader Syed Rezaul Karim, also Charmonai Pir, is still dissatisfied with that.

Discontent is also evident among several other parties. Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish had sought 50 seats, but it is likely to get 13 to 15 seats.

Similarly, Khelafat Majlish, which had demanded more than 25 seats, now has to remain content with five or seven. Nezame Islam and Bangladesh Khelafat Andolan are said to have secured two seats each, while BDP and Jagpa have managed to ensure one seat each.

NCP, a new entrant to the talks, sought around 50 seats. It reportedly reached a preliminary understanding with Jamaat over 30 seats, but even that is yet to be finalised.