Desk Report:
The 13th National Assembly elections are scheduled to be held in mid-February next year. Ahead of the elections, the two major parties, BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami, have taken opposing positions on several issues, including the proportional representation (PR) system. The dispute has erupted on the streets as no solution has been reached at the negotiating table. Jamaat-e-Islami has already taken to the field with like-minded people to create pressure on five demands, including the PR system. However, analysts say that the reason behind the dispute and the program is seat sharing in the next election.
The discussion of seat sharing has resurfaced around an interview with BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir published in an Indian media outlet, ‘Ei Somi’. In that interview, Mirza Fakhrul was quoted as saying that Jamaat-e-Islami had asked BNP for 30 seats; but BNP did not agree to it. The party wants to give Jamaat many fewer seats, which Jamaat did not like. The interview also mentioned that Jamaat’s PR movement was a tactic to put pressure on BNP.
In an interview with ‘Ei Soimo’, Jamaat-e-Islami condemned the BNP Secretary General’s statement as ‘untrue, disrespectful and vindictive’. In a statement on Tuesday, Jamaat Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar said, ‘We find it difficult to believe that such a statement was made by a senior politician like Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir. There is no truth or decency in this statement. If this statement was made by him, then I unequivocally call on the nation to present the evidence of who Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami claimed these seats from.’
Although Mirza Fakhrul spoke to ‘Ei Soimo’, he claimed that he did not give an interview. He also claimed that he did not say anything about Jamaat-e-Islami’s demand for 30 seats. He told a Bangladeshi media outlet on the phone yesterday evening, “I did not give any interview to ‘Ai Soomi’. There was talk; but I did not say anything like that.” The BNP media cell also said in a statement that the Indian media outlet ‘Ai Soomi’ has misleadingly reported the party’s Secretary General’s statement.
Whatever the discussion and criticism of Mirza Fakhrul’s statement, several sources have confirmed that seat-sharing talks are underway among political parties ahead of the elections.
Sources say that BNP has held several meetings with the Democratic Front’s Nagorik Oikya, Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal-JSD, Gana Sanghati Andolan, Biplobi Workers Party and State Reforms Movement regarding seat-sharing. In these meetings, the parties received positive responses from BNP. The impact of which has been reflected in the third phase of the National Consensus Commission’s dialogue. A source also said that the Gana Adhikar Parishad, another partner of the Democratic Front, will not enter into an alliance with BNP.
When asked whether there has been any discussion on seat sharing, JSD General Secretary Shahid Uddin Mahmud Swapan told Ajker Patrika, “We have been officially informed by BNP to discuss the seat sharing agreement. We are discussing as an alliance. We will sit at the negotiating table with BNP on this issue with all preparations.”
A responsible BNP leader, who did not want to be named, said that BNP has special concerns about the movement’s partner parties. As much as they deserve, well-considered steps will be taken for them in the future. That will be decided through discussions. The leader also said that no formal talks have been held with the partners on this issue yet.
Another source said that BNP has had positive discussions with the Democracy Forum on seat sharing in the national elections. BNP is trying its best to keep them in its favor. A member of the party’s standing committee is closely monitoring the issue, which has had an impact on the third phase of the dialogue. It will be more visible in the future.
When asked, Saiful Haque, leader of the Democratic Platform and General Secretary of the Revolutionary Workers Party, said, “There has been no formal discussion on seat sharing yet. However, discussions will be held soon. We are discussing it ourselves. We are also talking to other partners of the simultaneous movement. Then, everything will be visible after we have formal talks with the BNP on this issue.
Executive Coordinator of the Mass Solidarity Movement, Abul Hasan Rubel, said, “There are no discussions with anyone about the electoral alliance for now.”
Meanwhile, sources said that the six parties of the Democratic Platform, AB Party, NCP and the Gana Adhikar Parishad also held a meeting. Sources claim that in this meeting, in addition to creating coordination between the BNP and Jamaat, discussions were held on greater political unity. As per the decision of the meeting, leaders of the 9 parties have already started communicating with the top leaders of the BNP and Jamaat to reduce the distance.
When attention was drawn to this issue, Saiful Haque, however, said that the meeting was mainly about the method of implementing the July National Charter. There was no discussion on forming an alliance or sharing electoral seats.
