Seat-Sharing: 11-party chiefs to meet today to seal the deal

Chiefs of the Jamaat-e-Islami-led 11-party alliance are expected to meet today to finalise the seat-sharing deal for the February 12 parliamentary election.

Jamaat Assistant Secretary General Ahsanul Mahboob Zubair told The Daily Star that the liaison committee will place proposals before the alliance leaders, who are likely to settle the arrangement. 

“We hope to inform the media about the seat-sharing deal through a press conference within a day or two,” he said.

An Islami Andolon Bangladesh (IAB) leader said their Ameer, Syed Muhammad Rezaul Karim, has instructed all party candidates to attend a meeting in Dhaka. 

“The Ameer will announce who has secured nominations from the alliance and instruct others to withdraw,” the leader said on condition of anonymity.

Following the uprising, Jamaat, IAB, Khelafat Majlis, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis, Bangladesh Khelafat Andolon, Nizam-e-Islam Party, Jatiya Ganatantrik Party (JAGPA) and Bangladesh Development Party (BDP) launched joint programmes pressing for a level playing field and elections under the July National Charter. 

The eight parties later formed an electoral alliance to field single candidates in all 300 constituencies based on seat sharing.

Later, the National Citizen Party (NCP), Liberal Democratic Party and AB Party joined the alliance, turning it into an 11-party coalition.

According to multiple sources, Jamaat wants to keep around 190 to 200 seats for itself and negotiate with other parties for the remaining seats.

Through internal surveys, Jamaat has identified about 170 to 175 constituencies where it believes it has a strong chance of winning. In addition, Jamaat wants to field candidates in around 20 more seats, where, according to the party, the alliance has failed to field strong contenders. 

According to the latest information from insiders, Jamaat has agreed to give 40 seats to IAB, 30 seats to NCP, 12 to 15 seats to Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis, seven to the Khelafat Majlis, four to the LDP, three to the AB Party and two to the BDP.

As IAB wants more seats, Jamaat has held several meetings with IAB in the last few days and in the end, after assessing popularity and qualifications, Jamaat may give IAB a few more seats, sources in Jamaat and IAB said.

When the NCP joined the seat-sharing talks, its leaders said they were assured of 30 seats. Although there were discussions about a slight reduction, Jamaat sources indicated the NCP is still likely to receive 30.

Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis, led by Mamunul Haque, had demanded 25 to 30 seats. Jamaat initially discussed offering 13, but sources now say the party may settle on 15.

Jamaat may allocate four to seven seats to the LDP.

LDP President Col (Retd) Oli Ahmed will not contest the election, though his son, presidium member Omar Faruk, plans to run from Chattogram-14. 

The AB Party is expected to get three seats, with Chairman Mujibur Rahman Manju contesting from Feni-2 and General Secretary Asaduzzaman Bhuiyan (Fuad) from Barishal-3. 

The BDP may receive two seats, with Chairman AKM Anwarul contesting from Mymensingh-9 and Secretary General Nizamul Haque Naeem from Bhola-3.

Smaller parties such as Bangladesh Khelafat Andolon, Nizam-e-Islam Party and JAGPA may each get one or two seats.

Amid discussions on seat sharing, Jamaat submitted nomination papers in 276 constituencies and IAB in 268. NCP filed in 47 seats, AB Party in 53, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis in 94, Khelafat Majlis in 68, LDP in 24, Khelafat Andolon in 11, Nizam-e-Islam Party in six, JAGPA in three and BDP in two.

The parties have to finalise the agreement on seat sharing before January 20 -- the last date for withdrawal of nomination papers.