Jamaat holds meeting to ‘preserve’ alliance

The 11 party alliance led by Jamaat-e-Islami in opposition politics has come under a major new challenge. Amid growing differences among the partner parties and efforts to create a new alignment in Islamist politics, the liaison committee has held a meeting to determine a strategy to keep the alliance together.

Multiple sources familiar with the matter said this is not merely a regular coordination meeting. Rather, it is an important political meeting that could determine the future of the alliance.

The meeting of the liaison committee of the 11 party alliance began at 7 pm Thursday at the official residence of the opposition leader on Minto Road in the capital. Top level leaders of various parties in the alliance are attending the meeting, chaired by the opposition leader and Jamaat Ameer. The meeting will include detailed discussions on the future of the alliance, the positions of the partner parties and political strategies going forward, according to sources familiar with the matter.

Multiple responsible sources close to the alliance said the importance of the meeting has increased in the wake of a series of political developments over the past several weeks. Meanwhile, Khelafat Majlis, a partner party, has formally left the alliance. At the same time, discussions have begun on forming a new political platform involving Qawmi oriented parties at the initiative of Hefazat e Islam Bangladesh. There is also strong discussion in political circles that the National Citizen Party, or NCP, is showing interest in that initiative. At the same time, rumors have spread that several other Islamist parties may also leave the alliance.

A top level leader of the 11 party alliance, speaking to Agamir Somoy on condition of anonymity, said, “Khelafat Majlis has already left. Rumors have started that several more parties may leave at the initiative of Hefazat. The issue of NCP has also come up. These matters will mainly be discussed. The main focus of the meeting will be how to make the alliance more effective without breaking it apart. Jamaat will listen to the views of the other partner parties, while the partner parties will also present their various proposals.”

He said the upcoming presidential election, local government elections, attacks during various programs of NCP, various steps taken by the BNP government and the opposition party’s next political programs are also on the meeting’s agenda.