In recent times, the interaction between BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami has increased. However, the leaders do not think that the relationship between the two parties has become very close. Last week, the leaders of the two parties—BNP and Jamaat—participated in each other’s iftar, which was not the case until last year. After that, the relationship between the two parties came into discussion again. BNP came to power in 2001 by forming a four-party alliance with Jamaat-e-Islami. However, the relationship between BNP and Jamaat was not going well for a long time. The BNP was avoiding Jamaat, the opposition party in the war of independence, in various regional and international political calculations.
BNP’s stance on this, especially before the last 12th National Assembly elections, had an aim to ‘trust’ neighboring India. To this end, the 20-party alliance led by BNP was dissolved to avoid Jamaat ahead of the elections. Jamaat was one of the partner parties of this alliance. Later, the other members of the 20 parties that were disbanded, excluding the Jamaat, formed a new alliance and joined the simultaneous movement with the BNP. BNP maintained relations with these parties through bilateral meetings and exchange of views from time to time but avoided Jamaat.
The concerned persons said that even then Jamaat held several programs of simultaneous movement with BNP separately. But after realizing BNP’s evasive attitude, Jamaat started its own program. In the end, as the neighboring countries did not get support in the elections, the leadership of BNP again increased contact with Jamaat during the simultaneous movement. In particular, the Jamaat followed the BNP from the Nayapaltan Mahasambesh on October 28 last year. However, after the election on January 7, both BNP and Jamaat became silent.
Both parties are interested
This Ramadan, the communication between BNP and Jamaat increased somewhat around the Iftar ceremony. On March 28, Jamaat’s emir, secretary general and four people were invited to BNP’s Iftar. Then on March 30 Jamaat invited BNP secretary general and all the members of standing committee along with party vice chairman, advisor and joint secretary general to their iftar. Two members of the party’s standing committee, Zamir Uddin Sarkar, Mirza Abbas and 18 leaders participated in the iftar. Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir did not go.
In this regard, Jamaat-e-Islami Central Assistant Secretary General Abdul Halim told Prothom Alo , ‘You can say that the relationship with BNP has increased, I don’t think there has been much closeness. We want to be close to not only BNP but any patriotic political party for national interest. We do not know what the policy of BNP will be in this case.
It is said that after talking to several responsible leaders of BNP and Jamaat at different levels, the distance between the two parties still remains. However, there has been a realization among the BNP leadership that keeping a distance from the Jamaat, an organized opposition party, is no longer a sound political strategy amidst the government’s aggressive attitude and repression. Again, from Jamaat’s side, there is an interest in the political process by maintaining close relations with BNP through understanding. India’s ‘one-way’ policy in favor of the Awami League, especially on the question of politics and power in Bangladesh, is believed to be paving the way for bringing the two parties closer together again.
However, BNP Standing Committee member Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury’s assessment is a little different. He told Prothom Alo , ‘Jamaat-BNP has nothing to do with it. Those who want to separate the Jamaat-BNP relationship, want to issue it. There are 62-63 anti-government parties, not talking about them. Why only talk about Jamaat-BNP. There is a fire in the house. Whoever comes to put out the fire, we will welcome them.’
There is also opposition
Even though contact with Jamaat has increased, BNP has internal and external opposition to closer relations. BNP invited the Jamaat to the iftar, but Saiful Haque, general secretary of Biplabli Workers Party, leader of Jot Demokratia Manch, and freedom fighter Rafiqul Islam, president of Bhasani Anusari Parishad, did not attend. Jamaat’s leaders feel that all the members of the Standing Committee including the Secretary General of BNP were invited to Jamaat’s Iftar, but many of them avoided it due to various reasons.
A senior BNP leader, who did not wish to be named, observes that time and context have separated BNP and Jamaat. Time will tell how the relationship between the two parties will be in the future. However, he feels that as communication increases, the intimacy will not be very deep. Because both parties are very calculated and strategic in their relationship.