As many as eight Islamist political parties and organisations have decided to merge themselves to float a new party, which is likely to be named ‘Islamic Democratic Party’.
Misbahur Rahman Chowdhury of the Bangladesh Islami Oikya Jote, which had defected from the BNP-led 20-party Alliance in January 2016, will head the new initiative, according to people familiar with the matter.
MA Awal, who was removed by the Tariqat Federation— an ally in the Awami League-led coalition — as it secretary general, is likely to serve as the co-chairman and spokesperson, while Ganatantrik Islamic Movement’s Nurul Islam will be the secretary general, they said.
Sponsors of the new party said that the party is likely to be formally launched around the Eid-ul-Fitr.
All of the eight parties were allies in the 15-strong Islamic Democratic Alliance, which was launched in September last year eyeing the national election.
The potential parties to merge

1. Bangladesh Islami Oikya Jote (Chairman: Misbahur Rahman Chowdhury);
2. Ganatantrik Islamic Movement (Chairman: Nurul Islam Khan);
3. Islamic Party (led by MA Rashid);
4. Islamic Justice Party;
5. Islami Union;
6. Manobadhikar Andolan Bangladesh;
7. Bangladesh People’s Democratic Party;
8. Bangladesh Jatiya Party (led by DM Nazmul Haque);

Besides these parties Jamiyate Darus Sunnah led by Maulana Shah Mostakim Billah Siddiqui of Sharshina Darbar Sharif and the Peshajibi Parishad of Dr Rezaul Karim will be part of the new outfit.
“There’s almost no activity by the Islamist parties at this moment. Amid this situation, it has been decided to form a party with parties that are pro-Liberation War and follow Islamist ideology. We will formally announce it soon,” said Islami Oikya Jote’s Misbahur, who will lead the new party as its chairman.
Speaking to Bangla Tribune, former Tariqat Federation leader MA Awal, who was lawmaker in the 10th Parliament, said that they had initially floated an alliance of 15 parties.
“But now we have moved to merge eight parties in a bid to forge stronger political outfit,” he said.
The eight parties will be announced defunct, when the new party will be launched, said Nurul Islam Khan, who according to sources will be the secretary general of the party.
“Initially, the members of the 21-strong presidium of the coalition [Islamic Democratic Alliance, floated last year] will be in the party,” he told Bangla Tribune before adding they would move to register with the Election Commission after the formal announcement.
Out of the 39 registered parties, 10 are Islamist parties. There are some 17 coalitions, including the two led by the Awami League and BNP, in the Bangladeshi political landscape which accommodates some 152 parties — both registered and unregistered.