report in The Daily Star, July 16, 2023
Both the ruling Awami League and the BNP have been trying to get the Islami Andolon Bangladesh as an ally, but the BNP has finally made it.
The Islamist party yesterday expressed its support for BNP’s demand for resignation of the Awami League government.
Addressing a rally at Baitul Mukarram masjid, IAB chief Syed Muhammad Rezaul Karim said his party would support the peaceful demonstrations of the opposition.
The IAB organised the rally demanding the resignation of the chief election commissioner, dissolution of the Election Commission, dissolution of parliament, and a free and fair election under the “national government”.
Both the AL and the BNP were out to get at least one religion-based party as an electoral ally to get more votes.
For its performance in the recent elections, the IAB, founded by “Charmonair Pir” Fazlul Karim, has become a decisive factor in politics.
The party started its journey in Barishal in 1987. It emerged as the fourth most popular political party in the last general election.
In the last Dhaka city mayoral polls, it was the third most popular political party, beating the main opposition Jatiya Party.
According to IAB insiders, the party usually maintains a neutral position when it comes to siding with the AL or the BNP. People often view it as a party that is more likely to join the AL.
But the party’s stance changed after its Barishal mayor nominee Syed Faizul Karim was attacked on election day, they added.
The party later boycotted the city corporation elections.
Although the IAB announced support to BNP’s movement, there is a difference regarding demands of the BNP and the IAB.
The BNP has been demanding the next elections under a non-partisan caretaker government. The IAB, on the other hand, demands holding the election under a “national government”.
The IAB chief in his speech yesterday called upon the people of all professions, including the government officials, to refrain from following any unjust instructions of the government.
“The country is ours; the election is also ours. So, the people of the country will decide how the election will be held. Foreign interference is not desirable. The country and the elections shall not be run on the prescription of foreigners,” Rezaul said.
https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/politics/news/bnp-finally-gets-iab-backing-3369961
