Jamaat picks 22 more as neutral candidates

The 20-party alliance member Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has endorsed 22 more tickets for the next general elections in a counter move to BNP’s alternative candidates in the 25 seats which had been agreed upon, creating unease among the top two alliance members.

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) earlier shared 25 seats with its 20-party alliance member Jamaat to contest in the next 11th parliamentary elections.

Jamaat then came to terms with BNP that its candidates would contest the upcoming elections with the BNP’s electoral symbol ‘Sheaf of Paddy’ in the 25 constituencies.

But, the BNP also issued tickets for their alternative candidates against the Jamaat’s 25 candidates.

Jamaat then, according to its leaders, submitted 22 more nominations in the 18 constituencies where BNP and others members of the alliance have runners.

As one of the Jamaat nominees failed to submit his nomination papers, Jamaat is now hopeful of contesting in the 46 seats in total.
Jamaat leaders claimed that BNP has put alternative nominees against their men, to keep them under pressure.

In a counter move, the Jamaat leaders added, they have filed nominations as neutral candidates in 18 constituencies.

Jamaat’s neutral candidates include its central nayeb-e-amir Mujibur Rahman (Rajshahi-1), its publicity secretary Tasneem Alam (Natore-1), its executive council member Izzat Ullah (Satkhira-1), Nurul Islam Bulbul (Chapainayabganj-3) and Shafiqul Islam Masud (Patuakhali-2) and a former secretary AFM Solaiman Chowdhury (Cumilla-9).

Persons aware of the matter said Jamaat came up with two requests to BNP before issuance of the tickets – not to put any alternative BNP candidates against their nomination aspirants in 25 constituencies and choose at least two names of their election aspirants in the constituencies.

They said this has created a kind of mistrust among them.

On the other hand, BNP officials said the BNP has up the alternative candidates in case Jamaat’s candidate fails to secure their nomination at any seat. Then BNP candidates will contest there, instead of letting it fall vacant.

Now Jamaat has fought back with neutral candidates at 22 constituencies, the concerned persons said.

“It’s usually done for the sake of bargaining and creating pressure,” said BNP’s standing committee member Moudud Ahmed.

Moudul also said nothing can be said till the last date of nomination withdrawal, 9 December. Other understandings may come about by then.

Jamaat’s central executive council member Syed Abdullah Md Taher said, “At first, they (BNP) encouraged us to compete in the polls with their ‘Sheaf of Paddy’. Despite disagreements, we finally come to their terms. But, the BNP delayed in issuing the nomination letters. Then it was impossible for us to send the letters to our candidates. So, we informed our nomination aspirants to file their nominations as neutral candidates.”

The both of parties will withdraw their extra candidates once they reach an understanding.