Jamaat-e-Islami Unwilling to Nominate Former Interim Government Advisers Mahfuz Alam and Asif Mahmud

Jamaat-e-Islami is unwilling to nominate former interim government advisers Mahfuz Alam and Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan as candidates of a proposed alliance, citing concerns that their “controversial” records could become liabilities for a Jamaat–NCP (National Citizen Party) coalition.

Jamaat leaders fear that if the two are nominated, responsibility for their past actions would fall on the alliance, while rivals would portray the coalition as enjoying government patronage during the election campaign.

Leaders involved in the alliance talks told Samakal that the NCP, however, is reluctant to join the coalition without the two former advisers. Mahfuz and Asif are reportedly unwilling to proceed with Jamaat unless their party positions and candidacies are assured. Their supporters are openly opposing the Jamaat alliance and instead favor aligning with the BNP, expressing interest in meeting BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman. The BNP, which had offered the NCP four seats about a week ago, is now reportedly no longer interested in negotiations.

At an NCP executive council meeting held last Wednesday, around 90 percent of members present supported the proposal to form an alliance with Jamaat. After preparing written minutes of the decision, NCP leaders met with the Jamaat ameer. NCP Convener Nahid Islam and Member Secretary Akhtar Hossain are currently negotiating seat-sharing arrangements. NCP has instructed other leaders not to speak to the media on the matter.

Sources within the NCP say that five leaders, including Senior Joint Convener Samantha Sharmin and Senior Member Secretary Nahid Sarwar Nevas, oppose an alliance with the religion-based Jamaat. Efforts are underway to placate them, and discussions are ongoing about nominating some of them as alliance candidates.

Jamaat leaders involved in seat-sharing talks told Samakal that one former adviser faces multiple corruption allegations. Regardless of their veracity, they say, nominating him would force the alliance to bear the burden. They also noted that the other former adviser repeatedly criticized Jamaat on issues including Maududi’s ideology while in office, and nominating him would send a negative message to party activists.

According to Jamaat’s assessment, both former advisers have strained relations with state institutions and the administration. If they are nominated, Jamaat fears it would be blamed for any fallout and could be labeled as government-backed, while also risking hostility from state power structures—factors they believe could harm the alliance electorally.

AB Party, another partner in the NCP-led Democratic Reform Alliance, is also in discussions with Jamaat over seat-sharing. An AB Party leader confirmed that Jamaat is not keen on nominating the two former advisers.

While Mahfuz has not clearly stated his intention to contest, Asif Mahmud has collected a nomination form for the Dhaka-10 constituency. He reportedly sought to run as a BNP-backed independent candidate, but BNP declined. A senior NCP leader said Asif is ready to join the party and contest as a Jamaat alliance candidate, with a formal announcement expected once matters are finalized. Mahfuz is also expected to join the NCP.

Another NCP ally, the State Reform Movement, said it was not formally informed about talks with Jamaat. Its president, Hasnat Kaiyum, said, “If the reports are true, then NCP and AB Party are going against the alliance’s stated objectives. They cannot do this.”

NCP and AB Party have demanded 50 seats from Jamaat, while Jamaat is negotiating around 30. Jamaat has set a condition that NCP cannot field candidates outside the seats allocated to it. NCP, however, wants to field candidates in an additional 10–20 constituencies under its own symbol, even if 30 seats are allocated. Jamaat has rejected this, insisting on a single joint candidate in all 300 constituencies. A senior Jamaat leader warned that allowing extra candidates would effectively end the alliance.

NCP leaders argue that without the option to field additional candidates, the party could face internal splits. One NCP leader said the party must receive at least five more seats than the Charmonai Pir-led Islami Andolan, maintaining NCP’s position as the second-largest alliance partner.

Seat-sharing disputes persist among other Islamist parties as well. Islami Andolan initially demanded 150 seats, later reducing its demand to 120, and most recently to 100. Bangladesh Khelafat Party, led by Mamunul Haque, initially sought 50 seats, later lowering the demand to 35, and now to at least 22 if NCP joins the alliance. Jamaat, however, is willing to offer them only 10–12 seats, while proposing 30–35 seats for Islami Andolan—offers that have caused frustration among both parties.

Rumors circulated that Islami Andolan and Bangladesh Khelafat were leaving the alliance, but Bangladesh Khelafat Joint Secretary Ataullah Amin denied this, saying seat-sharing talks are ongoing.

A new proposal from Charmonai and Khelafat suggests Jamaat contest 150 seats, while the remaining nine parties—including NCP and Islami Andolan—contest the other 150, with Islami Andolan fielding candidates in 75 constituencies.

Sources say Jamaat invited top leaders of eight parties to a formal meeting, but Islami Andolan and Bangladesh Khelafat refused to attend without resolution on seat-sharing. Jamaat indicated the meeting may take place on Saturday.

Jamaat plans to allocate 15 seats collectively to five other partners—Khelafat Majlis, Nezam-e-Islam Party, Khelafat Andolan, JAGPA, and BDP—though Khelafat Majlis alone has demanded all 15 seats.

Meanwhile, the Labor Party, which failed to secure a seat from BNP, has already aligned with Jamaat. BNP has allocated one seat each to parties in its 12-party and 11-party alliances, prompting discontent and pushing several groups toward Jamaat. On Friday, Jatiya Party (Zafar faction) leader Ahsan Habib met Jamaat leaders seeking support in the Kushtia-2 constituency.

LDP Secretary General Redwan Ahmed has joined the BNP after the party was offered one seat. Displeased, Colonel (retd) Oli Ahmed, Bir Bikrom, is reportedly in contact with Jamaat, seeking seven seats. Jamaat, however, is unwilling to offer more than one seat, instead proposing to grant Oli Ahmed “special honor” as a senior alliance leader.