Ahead of the upcoming 13th national parliamentary election, Jamaat-e-Islami and seven like-minded parties are intensifying their efforts to secure victory. Leaders of the eight-party liaison committee are holding several rounds of meetings to finalize election strategies and candidate selection. Discussions on seat-sharing have already begun to declare single candidates in each constituency.

Initially, Jamaat-e-Islami is holding separate meetings with representatives of each allied party. After these individual talks, a joint meeting with all eight parties will take place to settle the final seat distribution. Jamaat is gathering information regarding the demands and expectations of each party. The key objective is the “One-Box Policy”—meaning all votes from Islamic parties will go to a single candidate under a unified electoral strategy to ensure victory for the nominated candidate.

Formal discussions regarding seat-sharing began on Tuesday. A single candidate for each constituency will be announced soon. However, none of the eight parties—including Jamaat—are fielding any female candidates in the upcoming election. According to relevant sources, the like-minded parties will submit demands for more than 100 seats to Jamaat-e-Islami. Among them, Bangladesh Khilafat Majlis led by Maulana Mamunul Haque is reportedly seeking at least 70 constituencies under the rickshaw symbol.

Since September, Jamaat-e-Islami and the seven other allied parties have been conducting joint movements based on several common demands. The allied parties include:

• Islami Andolan Bangladesh
• Bangladesh Nezam-e-Islam Party
• Bangladesh Khilafat Andolan
• Jatiya Ganatantrik Party (JAGPA)
• Bangladesh Development Party
• Bangladesh Khilafat Majlis
• Khilafat Majlis

Their demands include:

• Immediate implementation of the July Charter,
• Holding national parliamentary elections under a proportional representation (PR) system,
• Ensuring a level playing field for all political parties,
• Banning the activities of the Jatiya Party and the 14-party alliance, whom they labeled as allies of “fascism.”

These parties have already carried out several joint programs to press these demands. Most recently, they held divisional rallies in November. They have now announced a fresh campaign program until 31 December, aimed at building public support for a “Yes” vote in the upcoming referendum on implementing the July National Charter.

When contacted, Dr. Hamidur Rahman Azad—Assistant Secretary General of Jamaat-e-Islami and coordinator of the eight-party liaison committee—told:
“This eight-party platform is not an electoral alliance. It is a movement-based platform. We are working under the ‘One-Box Policy.’ Meaning, in each constituency, there will be only one candidate nominated by all eight parties—selected through mutual understanding. Where there is an eight-party-backed candidate, none of these parties will field any alternative candidate. We will work collectively for victory, and we aim to finalize candidate selection as soon as possible, InshaAllah.”
He added that the parties would meet separately first, then jointly, to finalize an agreement.

On Monday evening, the eight-party liaison committee held a meeting at the central office of Khilafat Majlis in Paltan. Five decisions were made:

1. Conduct nationwide campaigns until 31 December in support of a “Yes” vote in the referendum on the July Charter.
2. After the election schedule is announced, top leaders will meet to determine the next steps.
3. Each party under the eight-party platform will observe Victory Day with separate programs.
4. District- and upazila-level liaison committees will be formed to strengthen the eight-party activities.
5. Seat-sharing discussions for the 13th parliamentary election will formally begin.

Dr. Ahmad Abdul Kader, Secretary General of Khilafat Majlis, said:
“Our earlier demands—for ensuring a level playing field—remain unchanged. After the election schedule is announced, we will decide the next course of action. Large programs have already been completed at the grassroots level. Now we will discuss finalizing seats and election matters. The referendum issue will also be included. We hope to announce candidates for all 300 seats through consensus, InshaAllah.”
He added that each constituency would have a single candidate backed by all eight parties—without using the name of any alliance or coalition—and they would be “patriotic and representative of Islamic unity.”

JAGPA’s Vice-President and party spokesperson Engineer Rashed Pradhan told that they would join talks with a mindset of “maximum compromise.” His party will propose candidates for five constituencies, though he stressed that they will request only what seems realistic. He noted that discussions have only just begun, and Jamaat will hold separate meetings with the like-minded parties. A final agreement will be reached only after joint discussions.

Maulana Ataullah Amin, Joint Secretary General of Bangladesh Khilafat Majlis, told that his party has already prepared to contest the election independently and even declared some candidates. However, given the current united movement, the party will join the election based on mutual agreement. Seat-sharing discussions are still in the negotiation stage, he said.