Seat-sharing talks change gear as polls schedule imminent

Political parties are
accelerating preparations for the coming polls, with aspirants nearly
finalised, alliances taking shape, and seat-sharing talks at full throttle.
Across the country,
the election mood is unmistakable: posters are all over the streets, rallies
are large, and processions vie for public attention.
The spotlight now
shifts to the Election Commission, which has completed preparations for the nation's
first-ever twin exercises -- the 13th national polls and the referendum on July
charter reforms -- slated for February.
The timeline for these
polls is likely to be announced either this evening or tomorrow, setting the
election process in motion, according to senior EC officials.
Following tradition,
the commission will meet President Mohammed Shahabuddin at Bangabhaban today at
noon. It met Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed yesterday and held talks with
Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Sunday.
State-run Bangladesh
Television and Bangladesh Betar have already been asked to record Chief
Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin's address to the nation. EC Senior
Secretary Akhtar Ahmed said the broadcast may air either today or tomorrow.
After meeting the
chief justice, the CEC told reporters, "The polls schedule will be
announced this week." He added that he had requested the chief justice to
expedite deployment of the Electoral Inquiry Committee once the schedule is
declared.
"We have
completed all preparations to hold the polls," Election Commissioner Abdur
Rahmanel Masud told The Daily Star yesterday. He noted that ensuring a level
playing field will formally fall under the EC's jurisdiction only after the
schedule is announced.
Unlike in previous
elections, parties have finalised contenders ahead of the schedule. The BNP and
Jamaat-e-Islami have already named potential candidates, many of whom have
begun reaching out to voters, though formal campaigning will begin only after
returning officers allocate symbols.
BNP IN SEAT-SHARING
TALKS
The BNP has named
potential aspirants in 272 constituencies, angering alliance partners who say
they were kept uninformed. To address tensions, the BNP will begin seat-sharing
discussions today. A committee led by Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam
Alamgir will meet partners -- the 12-party alliance today and tomorrow,
followed by the Gonotontro Moncho and Jatiyatabadi Somomona Jote in phases.
Allies and like-minded
groups that had staged anti-government protests simultaneously with the BNP are
collectively demanding that the BNP sets aside at least 222 seats for them. BNP
insiders, however, say the party may keep around 15 of the 28 remaining vacant
seats for partners, far fewer than hoped.
BNP leaders argue that
ceding too many seats risks defeat, as allies will contest under their own
symbols, potentially aiding Jamaat or rebel candidates. To reduce risks, the
BNP has proposed forming a new platform under which partners would run election
activities.
"The platform could
be named the Democratic Reform Alliance, and its partners may be given
facilities, including positions in the upper house if it is formed in line with
the party's proposal, according to their qualifications," said a Standing
Committee member. The idea was discussed on Monday night at the chairperson's
Gulshan office, with acting chairman Tarique Rahman presiding virtually.
JAMAAT FOR
ONE-SEAT-ONE-CANDIDATE
The Jamaat was the
first to unofficially announce aspirants for all 300 seats, later revising
several names. Since September 18, Jamaat and the alliance of eight parties
staged protests to press for a proportional representation system and other
demands.
The parties in the
alliance include Islami Andolan Bangladesh (IAB), Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis,
Khelafat Majlis, Nezam-e-Islami Party, Bangladesh Khelafat Andolan, Bangladesh
Development Party, and JAGPA.
Seat-sharing talks
among the eight parties began yesterday, and top leaders will meet next week.
Leaders said the guiding principle of the talks will be "one candidate for
one seat," and each party is conducting surveys to determine the strongest
contender.
"With all these
changes based on the survey, the eight-party alliance will reveal the final
list of nominations after the election schedule is announced," Jamaat
Assistant Secretary General Ahsanul Mahboob Zubair told The Daily Star.
Tensions, however,
persist. The seven other parties have already submitted lists. IAB submitted
over 100 names; Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis (Mamunul Haque) around 45; and others
10–20 each.
Jamaat sources said
they are unwilling to surrender more than 60–70 seats.
IAB Secretary General
Maulana Yunus Ahmed said candidates will be chosen based on popularity,
qualifications, and social influence. "We will evaluate the candidates of
other parties, and they will do the same with ours," he said.
JAGPA's Rashed Prodhan
added, "Whatever decision is made collectively in the interest of the
coalition, we will accept it."
Meanwhile, Khelafat
Majlish (Mamunul Haque) has announced aspirants in 268 constituencies, while a
faction led by Maulana Abdul Basit Azad has named 256. IAB has prepared primary
nominations in all 300 seats.
NCP IN NEW ALLIANCE
The National Citizen
Party said 1,484 aspirants collected nomination forms. "We will finalise
the candidates soon," NCP Senior Joint Member Secretary Tasnim Jara said.
After months of talks,
NCP, Amar Bangladesh Party (AB Party), and Bangladesh Rastro Songskar Andolan
formed a new alliance -- Gonotantrik Songskar Jote -- on Sunday.
Alliance leader and
NCP Convener Nahid Islam said any party aligned with the July uprising's spirit
or interested in state reform may join. The alliance will contest under one
symbol.
OTHER BLOCS EMERGE
On Monday, Jatiya
Party factions led by Anisul Islam Mahmud and Anwar Hossain Manju, along with
16 other parties, announced the National Democratic Front.
Registered parties in
the bloc include the Manju-led JP faction, Bangladesh Jatiya Party, Bangladesh
Sanskritic Muktijot, Bangladesh Nationalist Movement, and Bangladesh Muslim
League.
Anisul Islam Mahmud
said they will participate if the law-and-order situation allows a free and
fair election.
Separately, on
November 30, nine leftist parties -- including the Communist Party of
Bangladesh, Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal, Gonotantrik Biplobi Party, Biplobi
Communist League, Somajtantrik Andolon, Bangladesh Jasod, Oikya-NAP, Basod
(Mahbub) and Basod (Marxist) -- formed the Ganatantrik Jukta Front. Basod General
Secretary Bazlur Rashid Firoz said the alliance will contest for all 300 seats.
The Election
Commission has already published the final voter list, completed delimitation
of all 300 constituencies, approved registration of two new parties, with two
more pending, updated the electoral code of conduct, and launched a mobile app
for expatriate voter registration.
Meanwhile, the
government has amended the Representation of the People Order and carried out
major reshuffles in field administration and the police.
















