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The two major political parties of the country have intensified their efforts to court Islamic parties in a bid to build their support bases and form big electoral alliances ahead of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad elections to be held in February 2026.

Although both the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami are holding meetings and keeping communication with the Islamic parties and organisations, concrete frameworks for election-oriented alliances are yet to be finalised.

Leaders of both the parties said that their discussions on political unity with various Islamic parties and groups were going on and would continue, but finalising the structure for electoral cooperation and confirming alliances would take more time.

The interim government is progressing with the preparations for the upcoming JS elections following chief adviser Muhammad Yunus’s announcement that the polls scheduled would be declared before Ramadan.

The BNP has increased communication with Islamic parties and organisations, including its existing allies, a move widely interpreted as a push towards forming an alliance or reaching an electoral understanding ahead of the polls.

Speaking to ¶¶Òõ¾«Æ·, BNP chair’s adviser Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal said, ‘The BNP will consider accommodating the Islamic parties who stood with us during the anti-fascist movement.’

‘If we go to power this time, we will form an all-party government. The Islamic parties will also be partners in that BNP-led government,’ Alal said.

Party leaders said that the BNP had already met several parties, including the Khilafat Majlis and the Bangladesh Nezame Islam Party.

Recent meetings with the Hefazat-e-Islam, the Bangladesh Jamiatul Modarressin (representing madrassah teachers and staff), and the Pir of Sarsina, who commands a large following, are being considered particularly significant.

These groups command notable vote banks and are ideologically opposed to Jamaat-e-Islami.

BNP leaders, however, maintain that these meetings had ‘no political intention,’ saying that they conveyed them greetings on behalf of party chair Khaleda Zia and acting chair Tarique Rahman.

Political observers noted that the BNP aimed to broaden communication with ulema, Islamic  organisations, and influential religious leaders to consolidate public support ahead of the upcoming general elections.

Since January, the BNP has widened its outreach as the party held meeting with the Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis on January 22, the Islami Andolan Bangladesh on January 27 and the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Bangladesh on January 31.

Two factions — the Bangladesh Jamiat-e-Ulema Islam, led by Mufti Wakkas, and the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Bangladesh, led by Ubaidullah Faruk — have already reached an understaing with the BNP.

BNP leaders say that discussions are going on, and more Islamic parties are likely to join them as allies ahead of the upcoming polls.

On November 3, the BNP unveiled a list of potential candidates for 237 constituencies, including three for its chair Khaleda Zia and one for acting chair Tarique Rahman.

However, the party kept 63 seats vacant — some for allies and some because it could not finalise their candidates there.

During the 2018 JS elections, the BNP had reserved 22 seats for its alliance partners.

Meanwhile, the Jamaat has also initiated its own process of discussions with Islamic parties since January.

The process gained momentum after the January 21 meeting between Jamaat amir Shafiqur Rahman and Islami Andolan Bangladesh chief Syed Muhammad Rezaul Karim.

After the meeting, Shafiqur Rahman told reporters that their primary objective was to foster unity among Islamic parties.

Rezaul Karim said that they aimed to secure a ‘single box’ for Islamic parties in the coming general elections.

The Jamaat has been holding simultaneous programmes with seven parties now to press five-point demand, including holding a referendum for giving legal status to the July Charter before the JS elections and holding the elections in a proportional representation system.

Jamaat assistant secretary general Ahsanul Mahboob Zubair told ¶¶Òõ¾«Æ· on Saturday that so far their party had no decision to form an electoral alliance for next general elections.

However, it may be seat sharing with seven parties who are now in the simultaneous movement with them, Ahsanul Mahboob said.

The seven other parties in this platform include Islami Andolan Bangladesh, Khelafat Majlish, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish, Bangladesh Khelafat Andolan, Bangladesh Nezame Islam Party, Jatiya Ganotantrik Party, and Bangladesh Development Party.

Jamaat leaders said that they were trying to bring more Islamic parties into their fold and may eventually form a full electoral alliance.

Jahangirnagar University government and politics professor KM Mahiuddin told ¶¶Òõ¾«Æ· that the BNP and the Jamaat appear to be engaged in a competitive push to integrate various Islamic parties into their respective camps to broaden their electoral coalitions ahead of the next elections.

‘The BNP’s calculations seem driven by the perception that the Jamaat could perform relatively well in the upcoming polls, prompting the party to intensify its outreach to religion-based organisations,’ he said.

According to him, though most Islamic parties do not have big vote banks, their influence on social media and grassroots mobilisation remains notable.

‘This digital and narrative influence is likely a key reason why both the BNP and the Jamaat are attempting to attract these parties into their alliances,’ he added.