Following growing disagreements over leadership structure, decision-making authority, and seat-sharing ahead of the 13th parliamentary election, Bangladesh Khilafat Andolon’s withdrawal from the alliance has created fresh signs of division within the Jamaat-e-Islami-led 11-party coalition.
Several senior leaders of Bangladesh Khilafat Andolon, speaking to The Daily Observer on condition of anonymity, said that the party has effectively distanced itself from the alliance due to long-standing dissatisfaction with Jamaat-e-Islami’s dominant role in coalition activities.
According to internal party sources, Jamaat has maintained significant influence over the alliance since its formation and has frequently taken key political and organizational decisions without meaningful consultation with other partners. They alleged that smaller parties were often informed only after decisions had been finalized, leaving little room for collective discussion or consensus-building.
“The alliance was supposed to function on the basis of consultation and mutual respect,” one senior leader said. “In reality, most major decisions were taken unilaterally, and smaller partners were simply expected to comply.”
Sources within Bangladesh Khilafat Andolon further claimed that the alliance’s liaison committee failed to function as an effective platform for coordination and dialogue. Instead, they said, it operated more as a channel for communicating decisions already made by the leadership, rather than facilitating joint decision-making.
A key source of dissatisfaction reportedly stemmed from disagreements over electoral seat-sharing ahead of the upcoming parliamentary elections. Party leaders said Bangladesh Khilafat Andolon had sought support in around ten constituencies but ultimately did not receive any seat allocation from Jamaat.
They argue that the issue goes beyond electoral arithmetic and reflects deeper concerns about political recognition, representation, and the status of smaller parties within the alliance structure.
“The question is not only about seats,” another party source said. “It is about dignity, participation, and whether smaller partners are treated as equals in the alliance.”
Another source familiar with discussions among Islamist political groups said Jamaat had previously maintained an electoral understanding with several parties aligned with the Hefazat-e-Islam ideological camp, including Bangladesh Khilafat Andolon.
However, differences over political strategy, leadership roles, and alliance management reportedly widened over time, eventually leading to the current rift.
