Jamaat steps aside for Shayekh-e-Charmonai, withdraws candidate

The Jamaat-e-Islami-led 10-party alliance has decided not to field any candidate against Islami Andolan Bangladesh’s senior Nayeb-e-Amir, Mufti Syed Muhammad Faizul Karim (Shayekh-e-Charmonai), after the IAB pulled out of the 11-party electoral understanding at the last moment.

The announcement came on Sunday evening after a Jamaat delegation met Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus at the State Guest House Jamuna.

Speaking at a press briefing, Jamaat Nayeb-e-Amir Syed Abdullah Muhammad Taher said the alliance made the decision “out of respect” for the IAB. “They played an important role in the unity process. Due to some technical issues, they have chosen to contest separately. We wish them success. As their Amir is not competing, we will not field a candidate for his seat out of courtesy,” he said.

The IAB had been a key partner in months-long discussions aimed at unifying Islamist parties for a coordinated electoral push.

The bloc, which expanded to 11 parties after the National Citizens Party joined, had been moving toward a joint platform. But disagreements over seat sharing led the Islamic Movement to break away and contest independently.

In response, Jamaat has decided to leave one seat uncontested for Faizul Karim, a move framed as a gesture to maintain goodwill among Islamist parties despite the split.