Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Faction Parts With BNP-Led 20-Party Alliance

In a written statement, he said their party had forged the electoral alliance with BNP and different other political parties in an emerging situation and joined some elections under the opposition platform. 

But, he said, Jamiat Ulama-e-Islam’s leaders and activists at the grassroots level have got angry with BNP for many reasons, including not evaluating the alliance partners, unilaterally boycotting three recent by-polls without taking opinions of the alliance partners, BNP secretary general’s statement about not believing in Sharia law, not protesting the jailing of Alem-Ulema and repression on them across the country, not expressing sympathy to the party leaders at the death of its secretary general Nur Hossain Kasemi and not taking part in his namaz-e-janaza by BNP leaders, reports UNB.

“So, Jamiat thinks withdrawing its support from the 20-party alliance is good for the party,” Jakaria added.

He also demanded the immediate release of all of their activists and leaders arrested centring the movement against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Bangladesh in March this year.

Jakaria urged the government to withdraw all the cases filed against Alem-Ulema, including the leaders and activists of Jamiat, and stopping their harassment.

He also demanded the reopening of all the Qawmi madrasas in the country immediately.

Jakaria said most of the senior leaders of the party were present at the meeting and took the decisions unanimously.

Jamiat’s two factions -- one led by late Moulana Mufti Waqqas the other by late Nur Hossain Kasemi -- have long been there in the 20-party alliance.

However, a party leader of the Waqqas-led faction said they are still with the 20-party alliance and they have no relation with the group that announced to quit the alliance.

Contacted, 20-party’s coordinator and BNP standing committee member Nazrul Islam Khan said, "As far as I know, their leaders (a faction of Jamiat) met the Home Minister today (Wednesday) and later issued such a statement."

He said they know many leaders of the Jamiat faction remained behind bars while many of its leaders and workers have lost their jobs due to government’s ‘vindictive’ attitude. “We’ll be happy if their leaders are released from jail and their workers’ problem over employment is resolved through this move.”

In 1999, the BNP-led four-party alliance was formed to intensify the movement against the then Awami League-led government, and it won the 2001 election.

The four-party alliance was expanded to a 20-party one in 2012, but many of its partners, including Islami Oikya Jote, Bangladesh Jatiya Party (BJP), NAP and NDP left it at different times.