Seven Islamic Parties Form ‘Somomona Islamic Alliance’ in Bangladesh

Seven Islamic political parties in Bangladesh have formed a new political platform, named the ‘Somomona Islamic Alliance’, following a meeting of party representatives in the capital on Thursday morning.

The alliance was formally announced after the meeting at Makhzanul Ulum Madrasa in Khilgaon, Dhaka. Maulana Ataullah Amin, joint secretary-general of Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis, confirmed the development.

The seven parties in the alliance are Islami Andolan Bangladesh, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam, Khelafat Majlis, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis, Bangladesh Khelafat Andolan, Islami Oikya Jote and Bangladesh Nezam-e-Islam Party.

Sajidur Rahman, secretary-general of Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh, said the seven parties had agreed to work together under the new political platform.

He added that parties currently affiliated with other alliances had also agreed to leave those groupings and join the Like-Minded Islamic Parties platform.

According to Sajidur Rahman, Hefazat-e-Islam has been playing a role in bringing like-minded Islamic parties together in the interests of the country, its people and Islam. However, he said the organisation would continue to maintain its non-political stance.

Leaders of the parties said the alliance's policy guidelines would be adopted on December 5.

Several senior party leaders also warned that their parties would leave the alliance if any conditions were imposed on them, signalling that the terms of cooperation would remain an important issue in finalising the platform's framework.