BNP is meeting with allies in the evening to resolve disputes over seats.

The BNP (Bangladesh Nationalist Party) has called a meeting with its allies to resolve the ongoing distance regarding seat sharing. The meeting is scheduled to be held at the BNP Chairperson’s office in Gulshan at 7:00 PM on Thursday (December 11).

Fifteen top leaders from allied political parties have been invited to attend. They represent the $5$-party coalition Ganatantra Mancha, the $12$-party coalition, Gono Odhikar Parishad, Jatiyatabadi Samamana Jote, and Gono Forum.

The top leaders of the five parties confirmed that they have been invited to the meeting at the Gulshan office and will participate. Discussions are expected to cover electoral seats and the overall situation. BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and several other leaders are expected to be present from the BNP side.

Leaders of the allied parties also stated that they want a quick and fair resolution on seat compromise from the BNP, so that no negative message goes out that there is a conflict between the BNP and its allies. They wish to continue their path while maintaining good relations with the BNP.

Earlier, the allies held a meeting on Wednesday amid disagreements over seats. Top leaders of $29$ parties attended the meeting held at the Nagarik Oikya office in Paltan in the afternoon. During the meeting, allies expressed their anger towards the BNP regarding seat allocation. It was decided that they would hold a joint meeting with the BNP soon.

Top leaders from the $5$-party coalition Ganatantra Mancha, the $12$-party coalition, Gono Odhikar Parishad, Jatiyatabadi Samamana Jote, Nezame Islami Party, and Gono Forum attended that meeting. These parties and coalitions were also part of the concurrent movement with the BNP. Among the top leaders of the allied political parties were Mahmudur Rahman Manna, Saiful Haque, Junaid Saki, and other top leaders of the $5$ parties.

Also present were Mostafa Jamal Haider, Chief of the $12$-party coalition Jatiya Party, Advocate Ehsanul Huda, coordinator of the Jatiya Dal, Nurul Haque Nur of Gono Odhikar Parishad, Fariduzzaman Forhad, Chief Coordinator of the Samamana Jote, Advocate Subrata Chowdhury of Gono Forum, Ashraful Islam of Nezame Islami Party, and other top leaders from a total of $29$ parties.

After that meeting, Saiful Haque, General Secretary of the Revolutionary Workers’ Party and a top leader of Ganatantra Mancha, told the media, “The meeting discussed the areas where the BNP is trying to ‘sink the boat at the shore’ [ruin things at the last moment].” He added, “The way the BNP has rendered these long-tested friends unemployed and semi-unemployed by announcing seats in two phases has offended us. We discussed whether the BNP is moving away from its previous stance. It seems to us that the BNP has adopted a ‘go-it-alone’ policy. We said that we want to sit together with the BNP very soon. We want to solve this issue. Will the BNP satisfy us by allocating two or four seats, or will it truly evaluate the parties of the concurrent movement?”

He further said, “Where Jamaat is expanding its friends, the BNP is trimming its allies. This is a completely suicidal stance. The position the BNP has taken seems to be a major deviation for them. This has not only angered the parties but has also given rise to a feeling of distrust and lack of confidence. If this is allowed to grow, it could increase political distance.”

Mahmudur Rahman Manna, President of Nagarik Oikya, said, “The election schedule is being announced. Until now, we haven’t even had discussions with the BNP. The BNP has already nominated candidates in $272$ seats. So where do we stand? The BNP had said we would contest the election together and form the government together. These matters were discussed.”

The top leaders of the allied parties stated that unity among themselves was discussed at the meeting. They want to be evaluated by the BNP based on respect and fairness. It appears to them that the BNP has moved away from the commitments it had made. Consequently, they haven’t had discussions with anyone regarding election seats so far. Everyone is angered by this. However, the allies do not want to sever ties with the BNP. They want a quick resolution by sitting down for discussions.

Meanwhile, the BNP also held a meeting with the Revolutionary Workers’ Party on Tuesday night. However, as no compromise on seats was reached there, the party’s leaders, including General Secretary Saiful Haque, left before the meeting concluded.

In the run-up to the election, the BNP first published a preliminary list of candidates for $236$ seats on November $3$. A month later, on December $4$, the names of party candidates for another $36$ seats were announced. Accordingly, the BNP has announced candidates for a total of $272$ seats. $28$ seats now remain vacant. The BNP sources stated that most of these vacant seats are intended for the allies to contest.

However, the allies of the anti-fascist concurrent movement have complained that despite submitting their party and coalition candidate lists as requested by the BNP ahead of the election, the BNP announced candidates for $272$ seats without any discussion with them. They are surprised by this incident, and many are angered. In the announced candidate list, candidates from ‘unregistered’ allies were seeking the Dhaner Sheesh (Paddy Sheaf – BNP’s symbol) nomination in at least six seats.

A BNP source indicated that the BNP does not want any tension with its allies. The party will properly evaluate its allies. Therefore, initiatives will be taken to resolve the issue while maintaining unity.