The eight-party alliance, preparing to contest the 13th national parliamentary elections, will begin seat-sharing discussions from Tuesday.

Dr Hamidur Rahman Azad, Assistant Secretary General of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and Coordinator of the liaison committee of the eight-party alliance, confirmed the development on Monday.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the alliance’s liaison committee held today (December 8) at 6:30 pm.

The meeting took place at the central office of Khelafat Majlis, presided over by its Secretary General Dr Ahmad Abdul Kader.

Azad stated that in every constituency, a single candidate, nominated jointly by the eight parties, would contest based on mutual agreement, and no other party would put forward a candidate.

The alliance also decided to carry out nationwide campaigns until December 31 to build public opinion in favour of a ‘Yes’ vote in the upcoming referendum on the implementation of the July National Charter.

Jamaat to form national govt even if it wins 200 seats: Ameer

Azad said the alliance will announce its next course of action after the national election schedule is published and reviewed by top leaders.

In addition, each of the eight parties will observe separate programmes marking the Great Independence Day. Dr Azad also said that district and upazila-level liaison committees will be formed to strengthen the activities of the alliance.

Khelafat Majlish Secretary General Ahmad Abdul Kader said, we had initially hoped for the referendum to take place before the election, but after the government’s announcement, we accepted it in the larger interest.

Tarique warns BNP of ‘something terrible’ if unity falters

Those present at the meeting included Gazi Ataur Rahman, Secretary General of Islami Andolan Bangladesh; Maulana Musa Bin Izhar, Secretary General of Bangladesh Nezam-e-Islam Party; Abdul Majed Athari, Senior Nayeb-e-Ameer of the same party; Maulana Yusuf Sadiq Hokkani, Secretary General of Bangladesh Khelafat Andolan; and Mujibur Rahman Hamidi, Nayeb-e-Ameer of Bangladesh Khelafat Andolan. The meeting was also attended by Engineer Rashed Prodhan, Vice-President and Spokesperson of Jatiya Ganatantrik Party (JAGPA); Advocate AKM Anwarul Islam Chan, President of Bangladesh Development Party; Nizamul Haque Naeem, its Secretary General; and Ashraful Alam and Fazle Bari Masud, Joint Secretaries of Islami Andolan Bangladesh, among others.