Grand Alliance (Bangladesh)
Grand Alliance মহাজোট | |
|---|---|
| Leader | Sheikh Hasina |
| Coordinator | Amir Hossain Amu[1] |
| Founded | 2008 |
| Dissolved | August 5, 2024 |
| Headquarters | Dhaka |
| Ideology | Majority: Secularism Socialism Mujibism Authoritarianism Factions: Conservatism |
| Political position | Big tent |
| National affiliation | 14 Party Alliance |
The Grand Alliance (Bengali: মহাজোট) is a Bangladeshi big-tent electoral alliance of consisting right-wing to far-left political parties in the leadership of Awami League. It was formed ahead of the 2008 general election.[2] The alliance was a de facto merger of the 14 Party Alliance with the Jatiya Party and LDP, although the 14 Party Alliance remained active individually. The Grand Alliance is regularly reformed before elections.[3]
14 Party Alliance
There is a common confusion that the 14 Party Alliance and the Grand Alliance were the same. While the 14 Party Alliance is the "idealistic" political alliance between the Awami League and secular-socialist parties, which is active in everyday politics, the Grand Alliance was a larger electoral alliance before elections.[3]
Post-revolution Bangladesh
Following the ouster of the Awami League due to the July Revolution in August 2024 and its subsequent ban, the alliance has fallen into disarray. Many of its top leaders like Rashid Khan Menon and Hasanul Haq Inu were arrested on charges of murder and moneylaundering. Many members of the parties in the alliance have gone underground out of fear of vigilante mobs, indignant at their collaboration with the oppressive regime.[4][5][6] A petition demanding a ban on the all parties of the Grand Alliance was filed in October 2024 by the student agitators[7] but it was turned down by the Appellate Division.[8]
Composition
| Party | Ideology | Commencement | Termination | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awami League | Mujibism | 2008 | 2024 | |
| Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal | Left-wing nationalism | 2008 | 2024 | |
| Workers Party of Bangladesh | 2008 | 2024 | ||
| Jatiya Party (Manju) | Nationalism | 2008 | 2024 | |
| Bangladesh Tarikat Federation | Conservatism | 2008 | 2024 | |
| Ganatantri Party | Socialism | 2008 | 2024 | |
| Communist Party of Bangladesh (Marxist–Leninist) (Barua) | 2008 | 2024 | ||
| Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh | Bangladeshi nationalism | 2018 | 2024 | |
| Jatiya Party (Ershad) | 2018 | 2019[9] | ||
| Liberal Democratic Party | Economic liberalism | 2008 | 2012[10] | |
Electoral history
Jatiya Sangsad
| Election | Seats won | Change | Share of votes | Swing | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 263 / 300
|
New | 56.45% | New | Government |
| 2014 | 284 / 300
|
 21
|
83.54% | 27.09%
|
Government |
| 2018 | 289 / 300
|
9
|
83.22% |  0.32%
|
Government |
| 2024 | 226 / 300
|
63
|
xxx.xxx% | xx.xx% | Government |
See also
References
- ^ "14-Party Alliance gets Amir Hossain Amu as new coordinator". Dhaka Tribune. 8 July 2020. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
- ^ "Caretaker Government". Banglapedia. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
- ^ a b "Awami League to form grand alliance before election". Dhaka Tribune. 19 July 2023. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
- ^ ১৪ দলীয় জোটের ভবিষ্যৎ 'অন্ধকার'. Samakal (in Bengali). Retrieved 17 July 2025.
- ^ সংকটের বৃত্তেই ১৪ দল, 'ভবিষ্যৎ' নিয়ে শঙ্কায় নেতারা. banglanews24.com (in Bengali). 11 January 2025. Retrieved 17 July 2025.
- ^ ভেতরে ভেতরে ১৪ দলীয় জোট সক্রিয় করার চেষ্টা. Kaler Kantho (in Bengali). Retrieved 17 July 2025.
- ^ "'Ban all political activities of AL, 10 other parties'". The Daily Star. 29 October 2024. Retrieved 23 March 2025.
- ^ "High Court dismisses writ seeking ban on Awami League". The Business Standard. 1 September 2024. Retrieved 23 March 2025.
- ^ "JaPa to serve as main opposition in parliament". Dhaka Tribune. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
- ^ বিএনপিতে একীভূত হতে চায় এলডিপি. Prothom Alo (in Bengali). 7 February 2014. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
