7 Qawmi parties form Islami bloc

Seven Islamic political parties with roots in the Qawmi tradition have reached an agreement in principle to conduct joint political activities under a common banner, Samomana Islami Dal (Like-minded Islamic Parties), under the leadership of Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh, while retaining their individual organisational structures and political identities.

The parties have also agreed to bring other Islamic parties including those aligned with Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Jamaat-e-Islami into the broader unity process.

The decision was announced at a press conference on Thursday following a meeting of the seven-party liaison committee at Jamia Islamia Makhzanul Uloom Madrasa in Khilgaon of the capital. The meeting concluded focusing on political coordination, joint programmes and future strategies.

The seven parties are: Islami Andolan Bangladesh (IAB), Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam, Khelafat Majlis, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis, Bangladesh Khelafat Andolan, Islami Oikya Jote and Bangladesh Nezam-e-Islam Party.

Leaders of these parties unanimously agreed that Samomana Islami Dal would serve as a common political platform rather than a new political party or a formally separate alliance. 

The initiative aims at strengthening political cooperation and facilitate coordinated street-level programmes through mutual understanding and fraternal relations among the participating parties.

The liaison committee also decided to hold its next meeting on December 5. The leaders agreed to continue discussions, bilateral meetings and consultations with representatives of other Islamic parties to determine how those currently aligned with, or maintaining political understandings with BNP or Jamaat-e-Islami could join the broader initiative.

The proposed expansion of the unity process will be pursued through further negotiations and the formulation of a joint action plan.

Hefazat-e-Islam Secretary General (SG) Maulana Sajidur Rahman and Joint SG  Maulana Junaid Al Habib, IAB SG Maulana Gazi Ataur Rahman, and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Bangladesh SG Maulana Manjurul Islam Afendi and Senior Joint SG Maulana Bahauddin Zakaria, among others, were present at the meeting.