LOOKEAST

LOOKEAST EXCLUSIVE |

NOW that the Jamaat–e–Islami is sure that BNP will contest the forthcoming Bangladesh polls, it has decided to join the fray.

■ Dr Kamal Hossain, centre, is seen with Bangladeshi PM and Awami League leader Sheikh Hasina, right, and Rashed Khan Menon, left, leader of the Workers Party, during a political rally in Dhaka in 2006. Dr Kamal recently fell out with Hasina and joined an opposition alliance | Farjana K Godhuly

But it has lost the party’s registration with the Election Commission, the Jamaat is seeking to contest in the election as part of the 20–Party Alliance on the BNP symbol ‘sheaf of paddy’.

BNP unofficially assured them they would give them 18–20 seats, but that they will negotiate for 30–35 seats. Even though Jamaat nomination–aspirants collected nomination papers to contest in the election independently, BNP offered them to participate using its electoral symbol, the ‘paddy sheaf’

It has perhaps taken a clue from Dr Kamal Hossain’s Gana Forum, which has already expressed its desire to contest the polls on the BNP symbol.

But unlike the Gana Forum, the Jamaat–e–Islami is a member of the BNP–led 20–Party Alliance.

It has already handed the BNP a list of 50 nomination–aspirants to secure the coalition’s nomination for the upcoming 11th general election.

A Jamaat delegation submitted the list, to BNP Standing Committee Members Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain and Nazrul Islam Khan, on Saturday.

A source of Jamaat’s central executive council confirmed the matter.

After losing the party’s registration with the Election Commission (EC), Jamaat has now moved to contest in the election as part of the Alliance.

■ Lawyers loyal to Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Bangladesh Jamaat–e–Islami shout slogans as policemen use water cannons during a protest inside the premises of Supreme Court in Dhaka December 29, 2013 | Andrew Biraj

As many as 60 Jamaat nomination–aspirants, across the country, collected nomination forms to contest in the election — slated for December 30 — independently. The party scrutinised and finalised its list of 50 candidates—then submitted the list to BNP.

However, Jamaat Nayeb–e–Ameer Prof Mia Golam Parwar said: “Nomination–aspirants collected nomination forms to contest for 60 constituencies as per the party’s decision. A list is supposed to be handed over to BNP after it is scrutinized. I am not sure whether the list has been submitted or not.”

Alliance Coordinator Nazrul Islam Khan did not receive a phone call about this either.

Along with the list, Jamaat also submitted information about the overall scenario of the seats, such as, the number of votes the party secured in the previous elections, possibilities, and BNP’s support base in those areas.

The detailed information was given to help BNP to decide, said a member of Jamaat’s executive council.

However, a senior Jamaat leader said they are ready for any sacrifice since BNP has formed an alliance with Jatiya Oikya Front.

Jamaat–e–Islami already handed the BNP a list of 50 nomination–aspirants to secure the coalition’s nomination for the upcoming 11th general election. A Jamaat delegation submitted the list, to BNP Standing Committee Members Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain and Nazrul Islam Khan, on Saturday. A source of Jamaat’s central executive council confirmed the matter

He said BNP unofficially assured them they would give them 18–20 seats, but that they will negotiate for 30–35 seats.

Even though Jamaat nomination–aspirants collected nomination papers to contest in the election independently, BNP offered them to participate using its electoral symbol, the ‘paddy sheaf’.

However, Jamaat leaders have already said they will participate using other electoral symbols. The party forum meet to decide on the electoral symbol, said a central leader.

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.

In the 2008 election, the party contested for four seats under the party banner though it cleared 39 seats for the alliance. ■