Islamist parties want to ride on AL’s ‘boat’ at 10 seats

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Chowdhury Akbor Hossain
Published : 22:34, Nov 16, 2018 | Updated : 22:39, Nov 16, 2018

The Sammilito Islami Oikyajote, an alliance of seven Islamist parties, has sought ruling Awami League’s consent to contest the Dec 30 election at 10 constituencies on its electoral symbol ‘boat.’
The development came after an alliance delegation held a meeting with AL General Secretary Obaidul Quader at the party's’ Dhanmondi offices on Friday (Nov 16).
Chairman of the alliance and Bangladesh Khelafat Andalon (faction) chief Maulana Zafrullah led the five-member team.
At the meeting, the alliance proposed AL that 10 of its leaders want to vie for 10 preliminary seats in the upcoming general election.
“We are ready to participate in the election. We’ve told AL that we are willing to contest on boat symbol,” Secretary General of the alliance Mohammadamd Khairul Hasan told Bangla Tribune.
The ruling party, however, is yet to decide whether to give a green signal to the Islamists parties.
“They (AL) give have assured and said they will sit with us again,” said Hasan, who is the chief of Islamic Movement Bangladesh.
Sources at AL said, the proposal will be sent to the party President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and decision will be made public after another sitting, if necessary.
Besides Kheafat Andalon and Islamic Movement Bangladesh, the five other parties are Bangladesh Janaseba Andolon, Liberal Party, Islamic Democratic Forum, National Ulama Front, and Bangladesh Muslim Janata Party.
On Nov 3, these parties, none of them is registered with the Election Commission, announced their coalition at a media briefing in Dhaka.
Nov 4, the coalition had talks with the prime minister at her official residence Ganabhaban to discuss the 11th parliamentary election.

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