Seat-sharing talks between Jamaat, NCP nearing end

National Citizen Party Convener Nahid Islam yesterday held a special meeting with Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman, a day after announcing that seat-sharing within their alliance would be finalised soon.

According to NCP sources, the one-on-one discussion between the two leaders of the 11-party alliance focused on seat distribution and overall election strategy.

NCP Joint Convener Sarwar Tushar told The Daily Star that during the meeting, the NCP and Jamaat chiefs also discussed ways to maximise the number of alliance candidates winning in the February 12 election.

The meeting took place at the Jamaat ameer’s office in the capital’s Bashundhara Residential Area.

In a post on his verified Facebook page after the meeting, Nahid said they discussed the upcoming national parliamentary election and the recent political situation, describing it as a “special meeting”.

The meeting comes amid intense discussions to finalise seat-sharing among the 11 like-minded parties, including Jamaat, Islami Andolan Bangladesh and the NCP. 

There is also speculation that the NCP may receive around 30 constituencies under the arrangement.

The Daily Star tried to contact Jamaat Nayeb-e-Ameer Syed Abdullah Muhammad Taher and Assistant Secretary General Hamidur Rahman Azad, who are leading the party’s seat-sharing talks, but they did not respond.

However, a member of Jamaat’s central executive council and election management committee, speaking on condition of anonymity, said, “The overall electoral strategy was discussed in the meeting. Seat-sharing was also part of the discussion.”

“The final announcement may come tomorrow (today) or the day after,” the leader said.

Earlier, speaking to journalists after a meeting with a European Union election observation delegation on Saturday, Nahid said it would be clear within one or two days how many seats his party would receive in the alliance.

According to Jamaat sources, the NCP is likely to be allotted around 30 seats, while LDP and Khelafat Majlish may get seven seats each. AB Party has already been given two seats, which could rise to three, while BDP is expected to receive two seats. Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish may receive up to 15 seats.