Jamaat-led alliance seat-sharing deal leaves NCP without representation in Sylhet

The Jamaat-e-Islami-led alliance has finalised its seat-sharing arrangement for the upcoming parliamentary election, allocating 30 seats to the National Citizen Party (NCP) across the country, but leaving the party without a single seat in the Sylhet division, which has 19 constituencies.

The seat-sharing arrangement was announced last night (15 January) by the Jamaat Nayeb-e-Ameer Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher. 

Of the 19 seats in the Sylhet division, Jamaat has been allocated 10, while the remaining nine seats have been distributed among other alliance partners.

NCP did not receive any seats in the division.

Earlier, NCP had fielded party candidates in Sylhet-1, Sylhet-3, Sylhet-4, Moulvibazar-4 and Habiganj-4. However, the nomination of Ehtesham Haque in Sylhet-1 was cancelled during scrutiny due to dual citizenship. 

The remaining candidates had been actively campaigning and some had expressed strong optimism about securing nominations. The final seat-sharing deal, however, has left them out.

Under the agreement, Jamaat will contest in Sylhet-1, Sylhet-3, Sylhet-4, Sylhet-6, Sunamganj-2, Sunamganj-4, Sunamganj-5, Moulvibazar-1, Moulvibazar-2 and Habiganj-1.

Khelafat Majlis has been allocated five seats in the division, while Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis will contest two seats. Despite ongoing tensions, two seats have been kept for Islami Andolan Bangladesh in Sunamganj-1 and Habiganj-3.

However today (16 January), Islami Andolan announced that it will contest the upcoming election independently in 268 constituencies and will not remain in the Jamaat-led alliance.

Other seat allocations include 20 for Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis, 10 for Khelafat Majlis, seven for the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), three for AB Party, and two each for Nizam-e-Islam Party and Bangladesh Development Party.

Seat-sharing for the Bangladesh Khelafat Andolon and Jatiya Ganatantrik Party remained undecided.