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Thursday | October 22, 2026 | Dhaka

Ershad forms new Islami Mohajote

 New Nation
 Published: 12:00 AM, 31 March 2017

Sagar Bishwas :
Jatiya Party, a partner of ruling Awami League government as well main opposition in the Parliament, has formed a new political alliance with a view to appearing as a dominating factor in the upcoming National Elections scheduled in 2019.
The new alliance, named Islami Mohajote [grand alliance of Islamic political parties], was formally announced in a press conference at the Jatiya Press Club in the city on Thursday.
The Islami Mohajote has formulized five policies. Of them, combat militancy and tacking religious extremism
is mentionable. Besides, establishing rights of women and children by resisting violence against them is another important assurance.
“If we fail to establish values, the unsteadiness will continue… Islam is a religion of peace. Jihad and militancy are not the same. I urge all Islamist political parties to work unitedly to fight terrorism,” JP Chief HM Ershad said in the conference.  
Some signboard-based political parties, including Bangladesh Labour Party, Amjanata Party, Ganotantrik National Awami Party, Awami Party, Bangladesh National Democratic Party, Bangladesh Ganotantrik Andolan, Islamic Democratic Party, Krishak Sramik Party, United Muslim League, Gano Odhikar Party, Tafshil Federation, Jatiya Hindu League, Sacheton Hindu Party, Bangladesh People’s Democratic Party and Islami Gano Andolon, may join in the new alliance. But the list is still not finalized.
Sources close to the JP told The New Nation that the JP has taken strategy to involve mainly the pro-BNP and Islamist parties apparently to weaken the BNP-led 20-party alliance ahead of next general elections. At the same time, it is also keeping close touch with the left-leaning and other democratic political parties for the same reason.
To formulate the new Islamic alliance, JP presidium member and chairman’s political and press secretary Sunil Shuvo Roy has played the role of chief coordinator.
In accordance with the policy, earlier in the last two months, the JP arranged meetings with at least 24/25 political parties to discuss the formulation of the alliance, where party Chairman Hussein Muhammad Ershad was present in most of the meetings, the insiders said.
 “A number of BNP leaders of district and upazila level have expressed their interest to join the new alliance. No central leader, however, has responded till the date. But we think the situation may change in the future,” JP Secretary General Ruhul Amin Hawlader said recently.
Ershad-led JP was a partner of Awami League-led 15-party grand alliance during National Elections in 2008. But in 2014 election, the JP fielded 80 candidates under its own banner. Before that, the JP had formed an alliance named Islami Oikya Front with the help of some Islamist political parties.
Presently, the number of JP lawmakers in the Parliament is 40. The number was 28 in the ninth Parliament. JP has expressed its interest to field candidates in all 350 constituencies in the next national election.
Against this backdrop, Ershad categorically said that his party is not a component of AL-led Grand Alliance anymore. “We’re the main opposition party in the parliament. The JP will form another grand alliance involving some other Islamist and left-leaning political parties before the National Election in 2019,” he said.