It was ultimately decided to proceed with the voting process through Awami League's seat agreement with the 14-party alliance partners. This decision was reached during a meeting of the top leaders of the alliance, led by Sheikh Hasina, on Monday night.
However, the specific details of the seats that the ruling party will concede were not disclosed, and the timing of the negotiations was also not specified, leaving the alliance partners in anticipation.
The meeting of the 14-party alliance, held at Ganabhaban, began with leaders from the 14 parties congratulating Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina with flowers for winning the 'Asia Climate Mobility Champion Leader Award'.
Following the meeting, informal discussions took place between the Prime Minister and the leaders of the partner parties during a dinner event.
Sources involved in the meeting indicate that if an agreement is reached on seat allocation, prominent leaders of the partner parties will contest with the boat symbol, leading to the withdrawal of Awami League candidates in those constituencies.
However, there won't be efforts from Awami League to withdraw their candidates in areas where independent candidates from their party are running.
The issue of independent candidates was raised during the meeting, and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina stated that she would not personally request anyone to step down.
She emphasised that the encouragement for standing as independents was to boost voter turnout and create a festive atmosphere during the elections.
Related sources reveal the formation of a committee comprising four Awami League leaders. This committee, coordinated by 14-party alliance coordinator Amir Hossain Amu, also includes Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader, party Presidium Member Jahangir Kabir Nanak, and Joint General Secretary AFM Bahauddin Nasim.
The committee will be responsible for determining the number of seats to be allocated to the partner parties.
The committee members will engage in further discussions with the alliance partners, and subsequently, the finalised seat distribution list will be submitted to the head of the alliance, Sheikh Hasina.
During the meeting, Sheikh Hasina expressed the urgency of reaching an agreement on seat allocation soon, but also mentioned her willingness to address any issues that may arise.
Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader is scheduled to provide a briefing to the journalists about the outcomes of the 14-party alliance meeting on Tuesday afternoon.
Elections on time
During the meeting, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina spoke at the outset, followed by statements from several leaders of the alliance parties. Subsequently, discussions took place during the dinner session.
In her address, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina emphasised her commitment to upholding the constitutional obligations and acknowledged the challenges posed by domestic and foreign pressures and conspiracies. She affirmed that elections would proceed as scheduled in the country, and no one could impede the process.
Sources suggest that Sheikh Hasina conveyed her determination despite the potential for economic sanctions. She highlighted her identity as the daughter of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and asserted her resolve not to retreat, expressing confidence in the people of the country as she aims to propel the nation forward.
During the meeting, a prominent leader from the alliance party expressed their party's significance and political value despite consistently taking part in the votes with the boat symbol.
They emphasised that their party should not be equated with random political entities and that their speeches would continue to carry weight even after elections due to various pressures.
In response, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina acknowledged their value, highlighting the decision to stay together. She emphasised the long journey ahead and the continued importance of their alliance.
Another leader raised the question of whether independent candidates from Awami League, who are contesting in coalition seats, could be withdrawn.
Sheikh Hasina firmly stated that she would not take such action. She noted that she had encouraged all parties, including the Jatiya Party, to stand independently, and even within her own party, members had to compete against independent candidates.
She advised all members of the 14-party alliance to strengthen their positions and be self-reliant.
Doubts over bigger expectations
After the meeting, a leader from one of the alliance parties, speaking anonymously, conveyed that it appears there will be a delay in finalising the seat agreement. The seats for some top leaders are expected to be settled in a day or two, with the remaining seats to be finalised by the deadline of withdrawal of nomination papers on 17 December. The leader also mentioned that the alliance partners have expressed their concerns, and now they await the actions of the head of the alliance, Sheikh Hasina.
The members of the 14 parties had submitted their candidate lists, including priority seats, to the alliance coordinator, Amir Hossain Amu, the previous Monday.
Sources within the alliance reveal that the Bangladesh Workers Party, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD), Jatiya Party (JP), Tariqat Federation, and Sammobadiadi Dal have identified 25 seats as their priority list. However, the Awami League is reportedly hesitant to allocate more than six or seven seats to its alliance partners.
During the recent meeting, the prime minister suggested that alliance partners should field candidates beyond the allocated seats and encourage voting for their respective party symbols. This approach, according to her, would intensify competition.
In the current parliament, among the 14-party alliance members, the Workers' Party holds three seats, JSD has three seats, and Tariqat Federation and JP each have one seat, totaling eight seats.
Notably, leaders of these participating parties secured victories by contesting on the boat symbol in the previous elections.
The allocation of seats within the 14-party alliance has become complex in certain constituencies. In Feni-1, where JSD general secretary Shirin Akhtar held the seat previously, Awami League has nominated Alauddin Ahmed Chowdhury. Despite informal discussions after the recent meeting, the prime minister has reportedly signaled against conceding the seat to Shirin Akhtar.
In Dhaka-8, three-time member of pparliament Rashed Khan Menon opted not to submit nomination papers. Instead, AFM Bahauddin Nasim, the central joint general secretary of Awami League, is the nominated candidate.
Rashed Khan Menon submitted nomination papers for two constituencies in Barisal, where one seat is currently held by Awami League, and the other by Jatiya Party.
The dynamics within the 14-party alliance seem to be evolving, especially regarding seat allocations. Sammobadi Dal General Secretary Dilip Barua has submitted nomination papers for Chattogram-1 Constituency and expressed his interest to be considered as a candidate for the alliance if Awami League's Mosharraf Hossain doesn't contest. However, Mosharraf Hossain's son, Mahabub ur Rahman, has been nominated for this seat.
Meanwhile, Awami League candidates have been nominated in the constituencies previously held by Jatiya Party President Anwar Hossain Manju and General Secretary Sheikh Shahidul Islam.
Notably, Awami League did not field a candidate in the seat held by JSD President Hasanul Haque Inu. This suggests that seat-sharing negotiations and decisions within the alliance are sparking discussions and potentially impacting candidate selections.
*This report, originally appeared in Prothom Alo print edition in Bangla, has been rewritten in English by Farjana Liakat