Dhaka– Five radical Islamist parties in Bangladesh have agreed to form a liaison committee as they prepare for the upcoming national elections, according to local media reports.
The coalition, composed of parties rooted in the Qaumi Madrasa tradition, includes Islami Andolan Bangladesh, Khilafat Majlis, Bangladesh Khilafat Majlis, Jamiat Ulama-e-Islam, and Nezam-e-Islam Party. Each group will send two representatives to the newly formed committee.
“We have taken the initiative to unify the five Islamic parties under one candidate and one ballot symbol. The process is ongoing and not yet finalized,” said Maulana Manjurul Islam Afendi, Secretary General of Jamiat, in comments reported by the Dhaka Tribune. He noted that discussions to form a unified Islamic political front have been underway for years, but internal disagreements remain over the shape and direction of the alliance.
“We’ve formed a liaison committee, but no final decisions have been made regarding the electoral strategy. There are still differences over whether we will act as a single bloc, join a broader alliance, or pursue another approach. Talks are continuing, and while consensus has been reached on some points, more dialogue is needed,” Afendi added.
Reports indicate that the controversial Jamaat-e-Islami party—known for opposing Bangladesh’s 1971 Liberation War—has not yet been included in the alliance due to unresolved differences.
However, on Tuesday, the Election Commission of Bangladesh reinstated Jamaat-e-Islami’s official registration and its electoral symbol, the ‘Scales’ (Daripalla), following a recent Supreme Court ruling. This decision overturned an earlier High Court verdict that had declared the party’s registration illegal.
The interim government led by Muhammad Yunus, which came to power after the fall of the Awami League government, previously lifted the ban on Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing, Islami Chhatra Shibir, via official gazette notification.
Adding to the controversy, last month the Supreme Court acquitted Jamaat leader ATM Azharul Islam by overturning his death sentence for war crimes. He was released after spending nearly 13 years in prison. The International Crimes Tribunal had earlier found him guilty of crimes against humanity during the 1971 Liberation War, including the killings of 1,256 people, the abduction of 17, and the rape of 13 women in the Rangpur region, according to local media reports.
Political analysts have suggested that these radical Islamist factions previously aligned with student leaders and interim government figures, including Yunus, in efforts to topple the democratically elected Awami League government led by former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
India has expressed concern over the resurgence of extremist rhetoric and recent spikes in political violence and provocation in Bangladesh. New Delhi has also urged the interim government to uphold its duty to protect all minority communities amid the evolving political landscape. (Source: IANS)
