BNP, IAB agree on 10-point consensus for quick, credible polls

Dhaka, 27 Jan  - BNP and Islami Andolon Bangladesh (IAB) have reached a consensus on a 10-point decision, including holding a credible national election in a short time after completing necessary ‘minimum’ reforms.

The two parties also agreed not to take any decision that contradicts Islamic Sharia, and that no one will make any statements against Islam.

The decisions were taken at a nearly two-hour meeting between BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and IAB Ameer Syed Md Rezaul Karim on Monday.

Mirza Fakhrul announced the decision after the meeting at the IAB’s central office in the capital’s Purana Paltan area.

“We had a discussion with Islami Andolon Bangladesh Ameer Maulana Syed Rezaul Karim. In this discussion, we have more or less agreed on 10 points,” he said.

The IAB Ameer said they discussed matters related to politics, the country’s situation, and humanity. “These are the same points that the BNP Secretary General has presented to you (the media). These are also our statements.”

Their other decisions include building national unity to form an independent, sovereign, and sustainable state, free from hegemony, expansionism, and imperialism, bringing corrupt individuals, terrorists, murderers, and money launderers to justice and ensuring exemplary punishment to them, fostering national unity to protect all human rights, including voting rights, controlling the rise in commodity prices, establishing the rights of all deprived people, restoring law and order, and promptly removing remaining associates of Awami fascism from the administration.

Both parties also decided to work together in unison with all anti-Awami-fascist forces to build the country, refrain from making remarks that hurt each other within the anti-fascist camp, and remain politically united to prevent any other fascist force, like the Awami League, from coming to power in the future.

In response to a question, the IAB Ameer said they had previously said the election should be held within the quickest and reasonable timeframe, without unnecessary delays. "We have talked about a reasonable timeframe which means within one to one and a half years."

He also said six months have already passed since the interim government assumed power, and expressed hope that a fair and well-organised national election would be conducted within the year. "This is our main point.”

Rezaul Karim also said discussion between the BNP and the IAB will continue in the future and he called for the media's cooperation in helping to build a prosperous country.

Fakhrul along with BNP Vice Chairman Barkat Ullah Bulu went to the IAB office around 12:05pm and held the meeting with the IAB leaders.

IAB Senior Presidium Member Principal Syed Mosaddek Billah Al Madani, Secretary General Principal Maulana Yunus Ahmad, Presidium Member Professor Ashraf Ali Akon, Senior Joint Secretary General Maulana Gazi Ataur Rahman and Joint Secretary General Maulana Imtiaz Alam were also present at the meeting.

Ahead of the national elections, Jamaat-e-Islami has been actively working to unite other Islamic parties and foster a new political polarisation.

On January 24, during a party programme at the Engineers Institution, the IAB Ameer said there is an effort to introduce a single voting box at every polling station in favour of Islam in the upcoming national elections.

Earlier, on Jan 21, Jamaat Ameer Shafiqur Rahman and IAB Ameer Syed Md Rezaul Karim had a meeting at the Charmonai Darbar Sharif in Barishal.

Amidst such efforts by Islamic parties, the top leadership of BNP has begun engaging in discussions with these parties to garner their support and secure their alliance for the upcoming national election.

The meeting between BNP and the IAB was particularly significant, coming after the IAB's discussions with Jamaat and their subsequent announcement to work together for the welfare of the country, Islam and humanity.

A day after the IAB's meeting with Jamaat, BNP held a meeting with Khelafat Majlis on January 22. Both parties agreed on seven key points, including the need to hold the national election by 2025 and to strengthen national unity to prevent the resurgence of fascist forces.

Khelafat Majlis, which is part of the BNP-led 20-party alliance, had previously distanced itself from the BNP coalition in 2021, allegedly due to pressure from the then Awami League government.