The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has agreed to leave four parliamentary constituencies for its joint movement ally, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Bangladesh, in the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election.

The decision was announced on Tuesday at a press briefing held at the BNP chairperson’s political office in Gulshan. BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir shared the details with journalists.

According to the announcement, the four constituencies allocated to Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam are Sylhet-5, Brahmanbaria-2, Nilphamari-1, and Narayanganj-4.

Mirza Fakhrul said Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam President Maulana Mohammad Ubaidullah Faruk will contest from Sylhet-5. The party’s Vice President, Maulana Junaid Al Habib, will run in Brahmanbaria-2. Secretary General Maulana Manjurul Islam Afendi will be the candidate in Nilphamari-1, while central leader Mufti Monir Hossain Qasemi will contest from Narayanganj-4.

The BNP secretary general described Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam as one of the country’s oldest political parties. He added that BNP will not field candidates in those four seats, and in return, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam will refrain from nominating candidates in other constituencies.

Candidates from Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam will contest the election using their party symbol, the “Date Palm Tree.”

The press conference was also attended by BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed, along with senior leaders of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam, including President Maulana Mohammad Ubaidullah Faruk and Secretary General Manjurul Islam Afendi.