The New Nation - Internet Edition

Talha Bin Habib

The final understanding on seat- sharing among the BNP led four-party alliance has not yet been reached yesterday despite submission of nomination papers on Sunday.

According to the information BNP has submitted 279 nominations, Bangladesh Jamaat-e- Islami 49, Islami Oikkya Jote (IOJ) 11, Bangladesh Jatiya Party 3 and Khelafart Majlish (KM) 13 for contesting the parliamentary polls on December 29.

The leaders of the Jamaat, IOJ, BJP and KM said that they were a little bit disappointed over the proposed number of seats allocation by BNP.

BNP led four-party alliance as well as the nationalists and Islamic minded parties are to be accommodative and they need to reach an amicable understanding on seat sharing for emerging out with flying colours in the national elections, they added.

They also said that though there was a little gap among them but they are hopeful to reach an amicable settlement on seat sharing before the last date for withdrawal of the nomination papers on December 11.

They were learnt to have starting bargaining with the BNP for the alliance tickets for contesting the polls in some constituencies in Sirajganj, Chapainawabganj, Jhenidah and Meherpur districts.

Earlier, BNP had promised to other partners of the alliance to allocate seats according to the demands of those parties.

Ali Ahsan Muhammad Mojaheed, Secretary General of Jamaat yesterday said a final understanding on seat sharing with BNP had not been reached. But he hopes that they would reach a positive solution within a couple of days.

"We would be able to reach solution on the issue before the Eid-ul- Azha," he added.

Asked to comment on the submission of nomination papers, Mojaheed said his party was initially offered 35 seats for the polls.

"We want more seats for the polls since our organisational preparations and grassroots level support is better than ever", he added.

It is informed that Jamaat was allocated a total of 34 seats from the four-party alliance in the stalled parliamentary elections on January 22 last year.

Moulana Abdul Latif Nezami, Secretary General of IOJ also hopes that a discussion between BNP and other partners of the alliance would take place soon for finalising the nominations for contesting the polls.

Meanwhile Bangladesh Jatiya Party (BJP- Matin ), previously partners of the four- party alliance, Chairman Dr MA Matin yesterday demanded of the BNP to give up some constituencies including his Sirajganj-2 seat for contesting the forthcoming parliamentary elections.