Jamaat-IAB friction casts uncertainty over seat-sharing
Tensions have intensified between Jamaat-e-Islami and Islami Andolan Bangladesh (IAB) over the seat-sharing arrangement for the upcoming national elections.
Disagreements have emerged over seat allocation, allegations of unilateral deals with the National Citizen Party (NCP), and the inclusion of new parties in the alliance. Leaders of both parties have exchanged counter-claims on these issues.
The conflict became apparent following the entry of three new parties – the NCP, Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), and AB Party – into an eight-party agreement that includes Jamaat. IAB has publicly expressed its dissatisfaction, particularly over seat distribution, through both media statements and social media.
On Monday, the last day for nomination submission, IAB filed papers for 272 constituencies. The party had also scheduled a press conference to clarify its position on the alliance and the elections, which was later postponed due to the death of former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia.
IAB leaders said the party considers 143 constituencies as its ‘A’ category seats, where it enjoys strong support. However, they claim Jamaat has offered them fewer seats than expected and has resisted concessions even in areas where IAB has a strong voter base.
Sheikh Fazle Bari Masud, president of IAB’s Dhaka Metropolitan North unit and a member of the liaison committee for the seat agreement, told Jago News that Jamaat has yet to clearly state the number of seats it plans to contest. “We understand Jamaat wants to contest around 200 seats themselves and leave only 35–40 for us. That is not a fair compromise,” he said.
Masud highlighted Barisal as a particular point of contention. “Out of six seats in the district, Jamaat is seeking three, including Barisal-5, which traditionally belongs to our Pir Saheb. This was raised in liaison committee meetings, but no resolution has been reached.”
He added that discussions have so far only covered Mymensingh, Barisal, and Chattogram divisions, while no talks have been held on the remaining five divisions. In Chattogram, Jamaat reportedly wants to leave only one or two seats for IAB out of 18, claiming the rest for itself. Similarly, Jamaat has refused to discuss seats in Rangpur, Rajshahi, Khulna, and Dhaka divisions, despite IAB having significant support, particularly in Kurigram and other areas of Rangpur.
Unilateral decisions and alliance friction
Masud also criticised Jamaat for negotiating independently with parties such as NCP and LDP. “Decisions were supposed to be made jointly, but Jamaat has acted unilaterally,” he said. “Initially, we wanted NCP included collectively, but Jamaat offered 30 seats to NCP without our consultation. That is unacceptable.”
Allegations of delay
A senior IAB presidium member, who wished to remain anonymous, said the seat-sharing agreement should have been finalised before the election schedule was announced. “We were sincere and proactive, but Jamaat deliberately delayed the process. Only two brief meetings were held between the 9th and 22nd of the month. This shows they never really wanted an agreement,” he said.
The delay, the member added, prevented IAB from fielding candidates in all 300 constituencies, forcing them to limit themselves to 272. The same leader criticised Jamaat’s tendency to cite past alliances with BNP as justification for its approach, arguing that the two parties have different political strength and vote banks.
Jamaat-e-Islami, meanwhile, stated it had filed nominations for around 200 seats nationwide. Assistant Secretary General Ehsanul Mahbub Jobair told Jago News: “Our discussions with IAB are ongoing. The allegations they have made have not been officially communicated to us, and we have no official issues with them.”
Hope for compromise remains
Despite the tensions, both sides expressed willingness to negotiate further. “The door is not completely closed,” said Sheikh Fazle Bari Masud. “If Jamaat comes forward for a respectful and transparent compromise, we are ready, but we will not wait indefinitely.”
Jamaat-e-Islami’s Assistant Secretary General Maulana Abdul Halim added, “Discussions are ongoing. Some challenges in the compromise are natural, and we may have to wait until the nomination withdrawal period to resolve them.”
The rift between Jamaat-e-Islami and Islami Andolan Bangladesh highlights the fragile nature of alliances in the lead-up to the elections, with nomination submissions already completed and campaign activities set to intensify.