A faction of the Islami Oikya Jote, led by Mufti Abul Hasanat Amini, was expelled from the Election Commission’s (EC) dialogue on Sunday following objections raised by another faction of the same party.
The incident occurred around 10:30am at the start of the EC’s talks with political parties in the commission’s conference room in Agargaon.
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin, senior EC officials and representatives of six political parties were present.
Although the dialogue was scheduled to begin at 10:30am, party representatives had taken their seats earlier. Minutes before the talks began, a delegation led by Mufti Sakhawat Hossain Razi, secretary general of another faction of the Islami Oikya Jote, entered the venue.
Upon seeing the Amini-led group already seated, Sakhawat Hossain Razi objected, calling them “accomplices of fascism.”
“They legitimized the Awami League by joining every one-sided election, including in 2024. If they stay here, we will not,” he said.
EC Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed then asked both factions to show their EC invitation letters. While Sakhawat’s faction produced their letter, the Amini-led faction could not present a hard copy.
“If you do not have the hard copy, you must leave,” the senior secretary said.
Following this, the Amini-led delegation exited the venue, allowing the other faction to take their seats.
Speaking to Bangla Tribune while leaving, the party’s Joint Secretary General Maulana Altaf Hossain said: “The Election Commission has expelled us unilaterally, even though we are registered with the EC.”
Representatives of Gono Forum, Gono Front, Islamic Front Bangladesh, Islamic Unity Alliance, Bangladesh Supreme Party (BSP) and Bangladesh Jatiya Party took part in Sunday’s dialogue.
