The Bangladesh Islamic Movement has decided to contest the upcoming 13th parliamentary elections independently, after deciding not to join the electoral alliance led by the Jamaat-e-Islami. The movement announced this decision at a press conference held at the central office of the Jamaat-e-Islami in Dhaka’s Old Paltan area.
According to the spokesperson of the Islamic Movement, Gazi Ata Rahman, the party has already secured valid nominations in 268 constituencies across the country. The decision to contest the elections independently was taken on the instructions of the movement’s Ameer and Chermonee Peer Mufti Syed Muhammad Reza Karmi.
The announcement comes amid a backdrop of allegations of irregularities in the 2014, 2018, and 2024 national parliamentary elections in Bangladesh. A committee, formed to investigate these allegations, has revealed that 80% of the votes in the 2018 general elections were cast after nightfall. The movement cited unfair treatment within the alliance and concerns over certain activities that it claimed were in conflict with Islamic teachings and values as the reasons for its decision to withdraw from the alliance.
Gazi Ata Rahman stated that the movement has already secured valid nominations in 268 constituencies and will contest the elections independently. He added that the party will continue to participate in the elections on its own, and that the movement’s decision to withdraw from the alliance was taken after consultations with its leaders.
The decision to withdraw from the alliance comes after the movement accused the Jamaat-e-Islami of including parties like the National Citizen Party (NCP) in the alliance without consulting the movement. The movement had earlier expressed concerns over the inclusion of these parties, citing concerns over their compatibility with Islamic values.
The 13th national parliamentary elections in Bangladesh are scheduled to be held on February 12, 2026, alongside a referendum on constitutional reforms. The elections commission has confirmed that the nomination papers of two candidates from the Jamaat-e-Islami have been rejected due to dual citizenship. The withdrawal of the Islamic Movement from the alliance has effectively ended the coalition.
The alliance was formed in the latter half of 2024, comprising the Islamic Movement, the Jamaat-e-Islami, and other parties, with the aim of demanding the implementation of the July Charter before the February general elections. Following the announcement of the electoral schedule, the alliance expanded to include the National Citizen Party (NCP), the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), and the A-B Party, making it an 11-party coalition.
