Adivasi Oikya Jote, an emerging political platform, plans to participate in the 13th parliamentary polls. It will field independent candidates in at least 30 constituencies dominated by ethnic minority communities, marking the first such initiative at the national level.
Garo leader Alik Mree, who recently resigned from the National Citizen Party (NCP), is leading the initiative. The proposed electoral symbol is likely to be the “butterfly,” and younger leaders will be prioritised across constituencies.
Senior leftist politician Bimal Biswas and political analyst Professor Dilara Chowdhury have welcomed the move as a positive step towards uniting adivasi voices in national-level politics.
Mree quit the NCP on 30 September in protest of the party’s “silence and misrepresentation of truth” during the movement over alleged rape of a schoolgirl in Khagrachhari.
Soon afterwards, he began mobilising support under the “Adivasi Oikya Jote” banner, aiming to put forward independent candidates nationwide.
For decades, it has been widely believed that minority communities largely vote for the Awami League, ousted in a mass uprising in August 2024. The party itself has reinforced this perception, presenting itself as the only trusted choice for ethnic minorities.
But in the political climate reshaped by July Uprising, adivasi leaders are seeking to build their own organisational strength – and the new alliance is a result of that shift.
Election preparations underway
The alliance has opened dialogue with local organisations across 16 districts, including Khagrachhari, Rangamati, Bandarban, Mymensingh, Sherpur, Netrokona, Tangail, Moulvibazar, Habiganj and areas of northern Bangladesh.
Speaking to TIMES of Bangladesh, Mree said, “This time we will run independent candidates in all adivasi-majority constituencies, from the hill tracts to the plains. We will apply to the Election Commission for the ‘Butterfly’ as our symbol.
“We are maintaining liaison with the Parbatya Chattogram Jana Samhati Samiti, Bangladesh Adivasi Forum, and Jatiya Adivasi Parishad. Our goal is to bring forth a new generation of adivasi leadership.”
Mree further confirmed that he himself would contest from Tangail-1 (Madhupur and Dhanbari), where his main rivals would be BNP and Jamaat.
‘This is the right step’
Commenting on the matter, Bimal Biswas told TIMES, “It is encouraging that the adivasi community will now field their own candidates. The ruling class has long deprived them of rights, while subjecting them to oppression.
“Supporting their own political power is the right step.”
Professor Dilara Chowdhury, former chair of the Government and Politics Department at Jahangirnagar University, noted that while the alliance may struggle to wield broad influence without the major parties, it could strengthen adivasi political capacity in specific constituencies.
“This initiative might benefit such communities in the long run.”
Sources point out that the Bangladesh Adivasi Forum, led by former guerrilla leader Santu Larma, maintains a wide network across ethnic minority communities. Sanjeeb Drong, general secretary of the forum, described Adivasi Oikya Jote as a structured initiative.
“Alik Mree is an ideological and hardworking leader. We welcome this move. It means the adivasi community will no longer have to vote under a single party symbol. They will bring forward their own young leadership,” Drong told TIMES.
He added that if the alliance cannot field candidates in some areas, it will support others strategically.
Drong also confirmed that the Bangladesh Garo Chhatra Sangathan, once split over its preference towards the Awami League, is reuniting after eight years, which he believes will give the alliance new momentum.
Some experts remain cautious
A hill tracts analyst told TIMES that the dynamics of conflict-driven politics in the CHT may limit the alliance success there. “Electoral calculations in the hills are very different,” he said, questioning the alliance’s scope in the region.
Election records show that since the signing of the CHT peace accord, Awami League candidates have mostly dominated.
In Khagrachhari, Awami League nominees Kalparanjan Chakma (1991, 1996), Jotindra Lal Tripura (2008) and Kujendra Lal Tripura (2014) all won, except in 1996 and 2001 when BNP’s Wadud Bhuiyan was elected.
In Rangamati, Awami League’s Dipankar Talukder secured victories in 1991, 1996 and 2008, though BNP’s Parijat Kusum Chakma (1996), BNP’s Moni Swapan Dewan (2001) and independent candidate Ushatan Talukder of Parbatya Chattogram Jana Samhati Samiti (2014) also won in different years.
In Bandarban, Bir Bahadur of the Awami League won five times between 1991 and 2014, except in 1996 when BNP’s Saching Prue Jerry secured victory.
On the plains, Garo leader Promode Mankin of the Awami League won the Mymensingh-1 constituency in 2001, 2009 and 2014.
In Rajshahi-2, covering Rajpara and Boalia with a strong Santal, Oraon and Munda population, Fazle Hossain Badsha won in 2008 with support from the Workers Party and mohajote. He was also elected unopposed in 2014.
