Dhaka, Jan 16 (V7N) — Charmonai Pir’s party, Islami Andolan Bangladesh, has clarified the reasons for not joining the Jamaat-led alliance in the upcoming 13th National Assembly elections.

At a press conference held at the party’s central office in Paltan on Friday afternoon, Gazi Ataur Rahman, senior joint secretary general and spokesperson of the party, said the decision stemmed from a perceived insult during a private discussion on December 9 between Jamaat Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman and Islamic Movement Ameer Syed Muhammad Rezaul Karim. In that discussion, Dr. Rahman reportedly cited a Prothom Alo survey, claiming the Islamic Movement’s vote share was “zero point something,” which the party saw as a direct slight to Charmonai Pir.

“This incident made us reconsider our participation in the alliance,” Gazi Ataur Rahman said. He also added that the party believes Jamaat has deviated from the path of Islam, further reinforcing the decision to contest elections independently.

The Islamic Movement announced earlier that it will field candidates for 268 parliamentary seats, rejecting any attempts to join the Jamaat-led alliance.

END/SMA/AJ