A senior source in BNP said that the party has decided to hold a meeting with Islamist parties that were not even so active in the previous simultaneous anti-fascist movement. A senior member of the standing committee has been entrusted with this responsibility.
On the other hand, Jamaat, although not so openly, is trying to build political alliances with various parties internally centering the election. There is discussion among Islamists that the Islami Andolon Bangladesh is involved in this unity effort of Jamaat.
Immediately after the political changeover in the student-mass uprising on 5 August last year, the Amir (chief) of Jamaat exchanged greetings with the leaders of various Islamist parties and organisations in several phases.
After that, the party also held separate exchanges of views with various Islamic speakers, scholars-ulamas and pir-mashayekhs. It is said that Jamaat started this initiative after deciding on its next political goal. Jamaat amir’s visit to Charmonai pir, putting aside their longstanding feud, is the part of this initiative.
Amir of Bangaldesh Khelafat Majlish Maulana Mamunul Haque told Prothom Alo, “So far as I can understand, it is uncertain whether BNP will forge an alliance. BNP will try to reach a compromise with Islamists by offering top leaders of the party some seats in the election, but that is unlikely to placate them.