DHAKA, Nov 27, 2023 (BSS) - Sammilita Islami Oikya Jote (SIOJ), an alliance of eight Islamic parties, will participate in the upcoming general election slated for January 7 and it has already nominated 200 candidates to contest the election.

The leaders of the jote today announced it at a press conference held at an auditorium of Jatiya Press Club in the city.  

“Sammilita Islami Oikya Jote will join the next poll to protect the country`s democracy and its sovereignty. We’ve have already decided to field 200 candidates in the election. Move is also underway to nominate 100 more candidates from the alliance,” SIOJ Secretary General Advocate Khairul Ahsan told journalists       

The eight Islamic parties are Bangladesh Khilafat Andolan, Islamic Movement Bangladesh, Nizam-e-Islam Bangladesh, Bangladesh Janosheba Andolan, Bangladesh Islamic Liberal Party, Bangladesh Muslim Janata Party, Bangladesh Islamic Democratic Forum and Bangladesh United Islamic Party.

Conspiracies are being hatched at home and abroad against the country, Ahsan said, adding that the alliance will join the next poll to protect the country`s democracy and its sovereignty.

The alliance urged all political parties including BNP to participate in the next general election under the incumbent government. They demanded rescheduling the poll schedule.

They hoped that the election will be held in a free, fair and transparent manner under the Election Commission.

They also said that there is no alternative to hold the election in time to continue the democracy.

Islamic Movement Bangladesh chairman Advocate Khairul Ahsan, Nizam-e-Islam Bangladesh chairman Harisul Haque, Bangladesh Janosheba Andolan chairman Yemen Hossain Azmi, Bangladesh Islamic Liberal Party chairman Ataur Rahman Atiki, Bangladesh Muslim Janata Party chairman Azijur Rahman, Bangladesh Islamic Democratic Forum chairman Professor Md Rafiqul Islam and Bangladesh United Islamic Party chairman Ismail Hossain, among others, were present, in the press conference.