Dhaka: Mojibur Rahman Monju, chairman of the Amar Bangladesh Party (AB Party), has issued a public apology for his party’s decision to join an 11-party alliance led by Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami. The move, he admitted, fell short of public expectations for the emergence of a new political force and arrangement.
According to United News of Bangladesh, Monju made this apology during a programme titled ‘National Election 2026 and Citizens Expectations’, organised by Citizen’s Platform in Agargaon. He acknowledged the disappointment among supporters of his new political organisation. Monju stated, “As a new political party, we could not fulfil your expectations. In the heat of electoral politics, we had to join a major political alliance. Many of you were hurt by this decision. I apologise to you.”
The audience’s response to Monju’s apology was overwhelmingly negative, with a resounding ‘No’ when he asked if they would accept it. Monju reacted by emphasising the importance of forgiveness, stating that not forgiving has contributed to a negative culture. He justified the decision to join the Jamaat-led alliance by highlighting the challenges smaller parties face during elections, saying, “In this reality, it is difficult for small parties to survive without aligning with bigger ones.”
Citizen’s Platform Convener Debapriya Bhattacharya questioned Monju on why the AB Party could not establish a new political arrangement. Monju attributed this to the party’s limited capacity, stating that managing the electoral process independently was beyond their reach. He expressed frustration over the ridicule faced by party leaders and activists on social media, where they are mocked for their perceived lack of political influence.
Monju also referenced Tasnim Jara’s attempt to contest elections independently after leaving the National Citizen Party (NCP), noting that not everyone has the same privileges. He argued that honest district administrators and police superintendents are more crucial than members of parliament for effective governance, promising not to interfere in their work if elected.
The AB Party officially joined the Jamaat-led alliance in late December, following the National Citizen Party (NCP) and the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), expanding the coalition to 11 partners. Monju is set to contest the upcoming election from the Feni-1 constituency and has already commenced his campaign efforts in the area.