A significant number of the leaders of different Islamic parties have shown their keen interest in joining the upcoming national polls and some of them want to contest polls as independent candidates if their parties don’t allow them.
Top leaders of some Islamic parties expressed their interest in joining the polls during a meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and they sought support from the PM in this regard.
A delegation of the top 14 leaders of nine Islamic political parties met Awami League president and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her official residence Ganabhaban in the city on Thursday evening.
The meeting lasted for over two and a half hours. Shahinur Pasha Chowdhury, a former MP from Sunamganj-3 constituency and vice president of Jamiate Ulema-e-Islam Bangladesh, confirmed the information to Bangladesh Post on Friday.
The nine Islamic political parties whose leaders called upon the prime minister are-- Islami Oikya Jote, Jamiate Ulema-e-Islam Bangladesh, Bangladesh Khelafat Andolan, Bangladesh Islamic Front, Islamic Front Bangladesh, Bangladesh Muslim League, Bangladesh Supreme Party, Bangladesh Islami Oikya Jote and Ashekane Auliya Oikya Parishad.
The leaders of the parties took part in the meeting included Abul Hasnat Amini and Mohammad Faizullah of Islami Oikya Jote, Shahinur Pasha Chowdhury of Jamiate Ulema-e-Islam Bangladesh, Ataullah Hafezzi of Bangladesh Khelafat Andolan, Syed Saifuddin Ahmed of Bangladesh Supreme Party, Misbahur Rahman Chowdhury of Bangladesh Islami Oikya Jote and Abul Khair of Bangladesh Muslim League.
The leaders of Islamic parties discussed the various issues of the national elections with the premier. They thanked Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for the various steps taken to conduct a free, fair and acceptable election.
During the meeting with the PM, many of the leaders of Islamic parties sought the support of Awami League in becoming members of the parliament.
In reply, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina called upon them to unite the pro-liberation forces. She said that the upcoming elections would be held on time in a free and fair atmosphere.
The Islamic parties’ leaders also praised the comprehensive development of Bangladesh under the leadership of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Later, the delegation presented a calligraphy to Sheikh Hasina, painting of the words ‘Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim’.
Meanwhile, Jamiate Ulema-e-Islam Bangladesh expelled Shahinur Pasha Chowdhury from the party. A press release issued on Friday signed by the party’s publicity secretary Zainul Abedin said that the party’s chief Maulana Ziauddin expelled Shahinur Pasha Chowdhury from the party.
Shahinur Pasha Chowdhury told Bangladesh Post that he joined the meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at his personal decision. He did not represent his party in the meeting.
Shahinur Pasha Chowdhury, however, said that he has taken all preparations to participate in the upcoming elections. The other leaders of the Islamic parties who joined the meeting are also prepared to take part in the elections. They sought the prime minister’s support for the election to be free and fair.
