The Islamic Movement of Bangladesh has announced that it will contest the upcoming 13th national elections on its own, instead of joining the 11-party alliance led by Jamaat-e-Islami. The party’s senior joint secretary general and spokesperson, Gazi Ataur Rahman, said that they are fielding candidates for 268 seats and no one will withdraw their nominations.
He made the announcement at a press conference at the central office of the Islamic Movement in Purana Paltan in the capital on Friday (January 16) afternoon. Gazi Ataur Rahman said that the Islamic Movement conducts politics based on principles and ideals and their main goal is to establish a welfare state in the light of Islam. The decision to go to the elections alone has been made as there is a fear of achieving that goal in coalition politics.
He said the party had filed nomination papers for a total of 270 seats, out of which 268 candidates are currently active in the election field as two were rejected on appeal. He also said that although Jamaat-e-Islami is a big political force, the Islamic movement is not weaker than anyone in terms of ideological and moral standing.
At the press conference, Gazi Ataur Rahman claimed that the party is walking the path of independent elections after withdrawing from the alliance due to different positions on Islamic law and ideology.