The date for the 13th National Parliamentary Election in Bangladesh has not yet been determined. However, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, which prioritizes reforms before the election, is far ahead in its election preparations.
The party has already announced the names of potential MP candidates for 100 constituencies in 21 districts.
Among these, the announced constituencies include: four in Gazipur, one in Madaripur, two in Meherpur, two in Jhalakathi, five in Sirajganj, five in Naogaon, five in Rajshahi, six in Khulna, eight in Tangail, five in Netrakona, four in Faridpur, five in Kishoreganj, ten out of eleven in Mymensingh, four in Moulvibazar, six in Dinajpur, three in Sherpur, five out of six in Kishoreganj, two in Panchagarh, four in Patuakhali, five in Sunamganj, and three in Pirojpur.
Jamaat-e-Islami’s Ameer Shafiqur Rahman said, “Jamaat has not officially announced the candidates yet. This is a preliminary selection. The election is still far away. The party will take a final decision closer to the election. Only those who receive the nomination at that time will be the official candidates.”
He made these comments while speaking to journalists after attending an event as the chief guest at the Shahid Suleman Hall of the Central Muslim Literary Society in Dargagate, Sylhet, where educational materials were distributed to meritorious students on Sunday afternoon.
“Basic reforms are necessary before the election. Without these fundamental reforms, a fair election is impossible. If the election is held in the current situation, it will be electoral genocide. We don’t want that. We want an election only after a fair environment is created,” Shafiqur Rahman added.
It has been learned that, given the changing political situation, Jamaat aims to finalize candidates for all 300 constituencies ahead of the BNP to become their main electoral competitor.
The party plans to finalize candidates for the remaining 200 constituencies within the next week. Party leaders have been instructed to start campaigning immediately.
Since August 5, Jamaat has been organizing worker conferences, meetings, and rallies across the country as part of its election preparation.
Jamaat Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman has been visiting various districts across the country to activate party units and energize organizational activities. During these visits, he participates in worker meetings and other programs.
Meanwhile, Jamaat is also trying to form a larger alliance to compete with BNP. Jamaat leaders have made it clear that there will be either 300 Jamaat candidates or 300 candidates from an alliance led by Jamaat in the upcoming election.
On January 21, Jamaat Ameer visited Islami Andolan’s Ameer Syed Muhammad Rezaul Karim in Charmonai, Barisal. Although there have been long-standing ideological differences, the two leaders discussed uniting Islamic parties for the upcoming election. This meeting stirred discussion in political circles.
Recently, representatives of Islami Andolan visited the office of Hefazat-e-Khilafat led by Maulana Mamunul Haque. Leaders of both parties agreed to unite Islamic parties for the upcoming election. After the meeting, Jamaat Secretary General met with Mamunul Haque.
A leader of Khilafat Majlis said, “Mia Golam Parwar came to invite us to a Jamaat event. Efforts are ongoing to form an Islamic parties’ alliance, and it will happen, Insha’Allah.”
A central Jamaat leader said, “We are talking not only to Islamic parties but also to everyone. Who will form an alliance with whom will depend on the political polarization closer to the election.”