Why is Jamaat leaving its allies in local govt polls?

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and its political allies participated in the national parliamentary election under 11-party alliance. However, their electoral strategies are beginning to diverge ahead of the local government polls, with Jamaat preparing to field candidates independently while several smaller partners favour a coordinated approach. Some are also considering alternative electoral arrangements if an understanding with Jamaat proves impossible.

The emerging differences raise questions about Jamaat’s motives. Does the party want to assess its organisational strength at the grassroots level, or is it seeking to avoid the complexities of sharing a large number of local government seats? The decision could also test the durability of the alliance formed for the national election.

According to party sources, Jamaat leaders are sceptical about the feasibility of centrally negotiated electoral arrangements for local polls. They argue that, unlike parliamentary elections, local government contests involve numerous positions, making nationwide seat-sharing difficult. The absence of party symbols and formal party nominations also complicates negotiations.

Jamaat Assistant Secretary General Hamidur Rahman Azad said negotiations over 300 parliamentary constituencies had taken several months. Reaching similar arrangements for the much larger number of local government positions would be impractical, he said. However, the party would not oppose agreements reached at the local level.

Azad said the alliance had been formed through negotiations for the national election, but no decision had been taken to contest local government elections jointly. Local issues, candidate selection and the absence of party symbols were among the factors making a coordinated approach difficult.

Jamaat’s organisational interests appear to be another important consideration. Support secured through a national alliance does not necessarily reflect a party’s independent electoral strength in individual constituencies.

Contesting local elections separately could help Jamaat identify areas where its organisation is strong, assess the popularity of local leaders and determine where it needs to strengthen its presence.

Jamaat Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar also indicated that the 11-party alliance formed for the parliamentary election would not automatically apply to local government polls. Speaking after a meeting with the Election Commission on September 1, he pointed to the non-partisan nature of local elections and the scope for candidates to contest independently in their respective areas.

The position does not necessarily mean an end to cooperation among the parties. They could continue coordinating on national political programmes while competing separately at the local level.

The possibility of electoral competition between Jamaat and the National Citizen Party (NCP) has drawn particular attention.

Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyan, the NCP spokesperson, has been discussed as a potential candidate for Dhaka South City Corporation mayor. Jamaat's potential candidate, Abu Sadik Kayem, vice-president of the Dhaka University Central Students' Union (DUCSU), has also emerged in discussions.

The prospect of both parties fielding candidates in Dhaka South has raised questions about whether they can reach an understanding. Potential candidacies for Dhaka North City Corporation are also being discussed.

NCP Senior Joint Convener Ariful Islam Adeeb said the party was preparing to contest independently and introduce its potential candidates to voters. However, he indicated that the party could consider an agreement in major city corporations if doing so offered electoral advantages.

The NCP, therefore, appears to be keeping both options open: demonstrating its own organisational strength while leaving room for selective cooperation. Whether this approach can be reconciled with Jamaat's strategy will depend on candidate selection and local political calculations.

Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis chief Maulana Mamunul Haque has advocated contesting local government elections through an alliance, similar to the parliamentary polls. He said that if Jamaat chose to compete independently, his party would have to consider alternatives and make a decision after discussions.

Sources indicate that Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis and Khelafat Majlis have considered alternative electoral arrangements if an agreement with Jamaat cannot be reached. The possibility of involving the NCP in such discussions has also been raised, although no final decision has been established.

Amar Bangladesh Party (AB Party) Chairman Mujibur Rahman Manju believes a single, centrally coordinated alliance covering all local government constituencies is unlikely. However, he said parties could reach agreements in particular regions, districts or upazilas based on local circumstances.

Such an approach could allow parties to retain separate national strategies while cooperating selectively in areas where a common candidate might improve their electoral prospects.

The differences over local elections have emerged against a backdrop of reported dissatisfaction within parts of the 11-party alliance over representation in the parliamentary election.

According to reports, some partners were unhappy with the number of seats they secured through negotiations. Khelafat Majlis was also reported to have expressed dissatisfaction over seat-sharing and reserved women's seats.

The party announced on July 25 that it would no longer participate in the alliance's programmes, according to the report. Its leaders were reportedly exploring both an understanding with Jamaat for local polls and alternative arrangements.

These developments suggest that the local election debate is unfolding amid wider questions about representation and political influence within the alliance. However, there is insufficient evidence to conclude that Jamaat's preference for independent participation is solely a consequence of those tensions.