Seat-sharing deal politics is now in full view in Bangladesh.

On January 15, 2026, a Jamaat-e-Islami-led 11-party alliance announced candidates for 253 constituencies for the February 12, 2026 national election.

What the seat-sharing deal says

The seat-sharing deal assigns the largest share to Jamaat-e-Islami. Jamaat said it will contest 179 seats. The student-led National Citizen Party (NCP) will contest 30 seats.

Other partners also received allocations in the seat-sharing deal. Bdnews24 and BSS reported these toplines:

Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis: 20
Khelafat Majlis: 10
Liberal Democratic Party (LDP): 7
Amar Bangladesh (AB) Party: 3
Bangladesh Nezame Islam Party: 2
Bangladesh Development Party: 2

The seat-sharing deal is not fully closed. The alliance said allocations for Bangladesh Khilafat Andolan and the Jatiya Ganatantrik Party (Jagpa/JGP) were still pending.

Where and how the announcement was made

Leaders disclosed the seat-sharing deal at a late-night press conference at the Institution of Diploma Engineers in Dhaka’s Kakrail area. The briefing began after 9 p.m., according to bdnews24.

Jamaat Nayeb-e-Ameer Syed Abdullah Muhammad Taher outlined the seat-sharing deal on behalf of the alliance. BSS also reported remarks from Jamaat Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman that talks were ongoing with a key partner.

The missing partner: IAB and the seats held back

The most sensitive part of the seat-sharing deal is what it did not finalize. Islami Andolan Bangladesh (IAB) did not attend the press conference. The Daily Star reported a chair had been reserved for IAB’s leader, but no representative appeared.

The alliance set aside 47 seats linked to unresolved talks, including IAB and two other partners, according to The Daily Star. Dhaka Stream reported the same “kept free” concept, tied to completing talks with IAB.

This matters because a seat-sharing deal is about discipline. If major partners hesitate, local campaigns can fragment. That risk rises as deadlines near.

The key deadline

The Daily Star reported seat-sharing deals must be settled by January 20, the last date for withdrawal of nominations. That deadline makes the seat-sharing deal a live negotiation, not a finished map.

Why this seat-sharing deal is a big signal

A seat-sharing deal is a hard proof of coalition intent. It shapes money, manpower, and candidate protection. It also signals whether parties believe the election is competitive enough to justify coordination.

The alliance includes Jamaat and NCP, a pairing that has drawn attention. Reuters previously reported that the NCP, born out of student-led protests, entered an alliance with Jamaat ahead of the February election. That tie-up caused internal friction inside the NCP, including resignations, according to Reuters.

A seat-sharing deal can also affect perceptions of “bloc cohesion.” Investors and businesses often use bloc cohesion as a proxy for policy predictability. In Bangladesh, that can influence views on stability during a transition period.

Broader election context

The February 12 vote is Bangladesh’s next parliamentary election. Reuters has described the major party landscape and the issues shaping the contest, including the role of the BNP and shifting public sentiment since recent political upheaval.

Against that backdrop, the seat-sharing deal gives Jamaat a large footprint while giving the NCP a defined lane. The arrangement may help both parties avoid splitting votes in key constituencies.

What to watch in the next week

The seat-sharing deal story now hinges on three questions.

Will IAB rejoin and on what terms?

If IAB returns, it will likely demand clarity on the seats held back. The public messaging from both sides will show whether the seat-sharing deal becomes cleaner or more contested.

Do pending partners get formal allocations?

Seats for Bangladesh Khilafat Andolan and Jagpa were not finalized in initial reporting. Any additions could reduce the seats available for IAB. That would change the seat-sharing deal balance.

Does the coalition enforce “one candidate per seat” discipline?

Dhaka Stream reported the alliance said only one candidate would run in each constituency under the seat-sharing deal. That rule is central to whether campaigns stay coordinated.