Jamaat-e-Islami to field former VCs, VPs and GS in final candidate list

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has introduced major changes in its parliamentary election candidate lineup, nominating at least four former university vice-chancellors, vice-presidents and general secretaries. The party has already finalised candidates for all constituencies and begun election preparations, including grassroots activities.

According to preliminary data, nearly 80 per cent of the candidates are fresh faces with no prior electoral experience, while only 59 have contested before. Unlike previous elections dominated by senior leaders, the party is now prioritising young leaders aged 35 to 45 to rejuvenate its image.

Sources said the decision aims to include women, minorities, July uprising fighters, student representatives and professionals from various fields who participated in recent political movements. The final list will feature surprises, with new measures to ensure ally parties' shares. At least four former vice-chancellors are expected to receive nominations.

The party is also considering three recently elected DUCSU vice-presidents and two general secretaries, all frontline leaders of the July uprising. DUCSU VP Sadik Kayem is among those under discussion, alongside former DU unit Islami Chhatra Shibir president and current central office secretary Sibgatullah Sibga.

The strategy includes allocating seats for an adviser and several July uprising leaders, potentially to allies if a coalition forms; otherwise, to internal candidates. Seat-sharing talks are ongoing.

Jamaat's Central Publicity and Media Secretary Advocate Ehsanul Mahbub Jobayer told The Daily Campus, "We will publish our final candidate list next month based on the preliminary one. We want to include people from diverse classes and professions, with a focus on youth."

He added that the eight allied parties seek to ensure representation from teachers, lawyers and other sectors.

The lineup includes party Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman and Naib-e-Ameer Dr. Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher, along with 18 doctors under the National Doctors Forum (NDF). Dr. Shafiqur Rahman will contest from Dhaka-15, while Dr. Taher will run in Comilla-11 (Chauddagram).

Other NDF doctors in the list:

• Prof Dr. Mahmud Hossain Bokul (Shariatpur-2)
• Prof Dr. Colonel (retd) Jihad Khan (Kishoreganj-3)
• Prof Dr. Mohammad Jahangir (Rajshahi Sadar-2)
• Dr. Sultan Ahmed, Al Manar Hospital Chairman (Barguna-2)
• Dr. AKM Fazlul Haq (Chattogram-9)
• Dr. Abu Bakr Siddique (Manikganj-1)
• Dr. Faridul Alam (Chattogram-12)
• Dr. Shahadat Hossain (Chattogram-14)
• UK-based paediatric cardiologist Dr. Mosleh Uddin Farid (Jessore-2)
• Dr. Mohammad Abu Nasher (Chattogram-8)
• Dr. AKM Abdul Hamid (Tangail-6)
• Dr. SM Khaliduzzaman (Dhaka-17)
• Dr. ATM Rezaul Karim (Chattogram-7)
• Dr. Abdul Bari (Rajshahi-4)
• Dr. Abdur Rahim Sarkar (Gaibandha-5)
• Dr. Fakhruddin Manik (Feni-3)

On 4 November, upon returning from Umrah in Saudi Arabia and visits to the US and UK, party Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman told reporters at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport that Jamaat had prepared its probable candidate list a year ahead, unlike BNP's delayed announcements. He emphasised responsible politics despite differing views, adding that democracy accommodates dissent but not conflict.