Mojibur Rahman Bhuiyan Monju () is a Bangladeshi politician, media worker, cultural activist and businessman. He is the current chairman of the Amar Bangladesh Party (AB Party), a political party formed in 2020 by reformist leaders who split from Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami. He is a former central president of the Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir, the student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami. He was expelled from Jamaat in 2019 for demanding organizational reforms.

He has been active in recent political developments in Bangladesh, including proposing an anti-fascist political alliance and participating in the July Charter discussions.

Early life and education Mojibur Rahman Monju was born in Sharshadi Union, Feni Sadar, Feni District, Bangladesh. He grew up in a politically active family. His father was a freedom fighter who was injured during the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971 and died two years later due to lack of proper medical treatment.

Monju has seven siblings, all of whom are involved in politics in some capacity. Most of his family members were associated with the Awami League and its affiliated organizations. His elder brother is a district-level leader of the Jatiya Party, and his younger brother is a member of the Bangladesh Chhatra League. His four sisters are married to freedom fighters, and they also held positions in various Awami League committees.

Monju attended Kuliara High School in Chittagong and joined Khelaghor, a children's organization affiliated with Jamaat-e-Islami, while in second grade. He completed his Secondary School Certificate (SSC) from MES High School in Chittagong. He later graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Chittagong.

Political career

Islami Chhatra Shibir and Jamaat-e-Islami Monju joined the Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir in 1988, shortly after completing his SSC examinations. He held various positions within the organization, including president of the Chittagong Polytechnic Institute chapter (1990–1991), central secretary of Chittagong College Chhatra Shibir (1993–1994), and president of the Chittagong metropolitan chapter while studying at the University of Chittagong in 1998.

In 2004, Monju formally joined Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami in Dhaka. He became a Dhaka city Shura member in 2006 and a member of the Dhaka metropolitan unit Majlis-e-Shura in 2007. He served as a central Majlis-e-Shura member for eight years before stepping back from mainstream politics to work in the party's cultural and intellectual programs. He did not hold any central position in the party for almost seven years prior to his expulsion.

On 15 February 2019, Monju was expelled from Jamaat-e-Islami for demanding organizational reforms. He had long expressed disagreement with senior party leaders over various issues, including Jamaat's role in the 1971 Liberation War and the need for internal reform. In his own words,

Following his expulsion, Monju, along with other reformist leaders, announced the formation of a new political platform called "Jana Akankhar Bangladesh" in May 2019. The platform officially launched as the Amar Bangladesh Party (AB Party) on 2 May 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Amar Bangladesh Party Amar Bangladesh Party was established with core principles based on the promises of the Liberation War—equality, human dignity, and social justice—with the goal of transforming Bangladesh into a welfare state. The party declared that it would not align with any specific religion or ideology, instead focusing on rights, inclusive policies, and solving citizens' problems.

Monju served as the member secretary of the AB Party from its inception until January 2025. In January 2025, the party held its first national council at the Suhrawardy Udyan in Dhaka, where Monju was elected chairman by a significant margin, defeating his rivals. He received 1,400 votes out of 1,689 cast, while his closest rival A.F.M. Solaiman Chowdhury received 211 votes. Barrister Asaduzzaman Fuad was elected general secretary unopposed. The newly elected executive committee paid tribute at the National Martyrs' Memorial in Savar, where Monju reaffirmed the party's dedication to the Liberation War declaration and the aspirations of the July–August 2024 Uprising.

In October 2025, the AB Party announced its first phase of candidates for 108 constituencies for the 13th parliamentary election, with Monju contesting from Feni-2 (Sadar).

In late December 2025, the AB Party joined the Jamaat-e-Islami-led 11-party electoral alliance, a decision that drew criticism from supporters who had expected the party to remain independent. In January 2026, Monju publicly apologised for the decision, admitting that it had undermined public expectations for a new political force. When asked by the audience whether they accepted his apology, the crowd responded with a resounding "No."

In January 2026, Monju was allotted the "Eagle" electoral symbol for the Feni-2 constituency. He declared a total annual income of Tk 11.83 lakh in his election affidavit, with nearly half—Tk 5.8 lakh—earned from television talk shows.

Political views and activities Under Monju's leadership, the AB Party has advocated for political unity and reform. In October 2025, after signing the "July Charter," he called on political parties to set aside egos and unite. He has also stated that Bangladesh needs a new alliance to combat fascism. He has repeatedly called on Jamaat-e-Islami to acknowledge its mistakes regarding its role in the 1971 Liberation War.

In October 2025, Monju met with Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen at the ambassador's official residence to discuss the July Charter, the forthcoming national elections, and bilateral relations. The AB Party indicated it was exploring the possibility of forming a pre-election alliance with new political forces that emerged in the aftermath of the July Uprising.

In November 2025, Monju launched his election campaign for the Feni-2 constituency, promising not to interfere with administrative work and to ensure transparency in government allocations. He pledged to work towards establishing a medical college, a university, and an army brigade in Feni. He also pledged to build an advanced and inclusive Feni by prioritising the dreams and aspirations of the youth.

In April 2026, Monju unveiled the AB Party's election manifesto, pledging the formation of a just society based on the spirit of the 1971 Liberation War and the 2024 July Uprising, with radical changes in education, health, mass transport, housing, youth employment, environment, women's safety, foreign policy and defence sectors.

2026 parliamentary election and aftermath Monju contested the 13th parliamentary election from the Feni-2 (Sadar) constituency as a candidate of the AB Party and the 11-party alliance. In January 2026, Professor Liaquat Ali Bhuiyan, a Jamaat-e-Islami central Majlis-e-Shura member, withdrew his candidacy from Feni-2 to support Monju, describing him as his "own candidate."

In July 2024, the AB Party alleged that law enforcement agencies had picked up Monju, though conflicting reports emerged about the incident. A Dhaka court later placed him on a five-day remand in a subversion case filed with Dhanmondi Police Station.

Media and business career In 2008, Monju joined Diganta Television as a Deputy Executive Director, a position he still holds despite the channel being off the air. He is a member of both the Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ) and the National Union of Journalists (NUJ). He is also a businessman, primarily involved in the pharmaceutical sector. He is active on social media, particularly Facebook, where he regularly shares political analysis.

Personal life Monju is married to Hosnara Begum, a former teacher, and has children.

References

External links

Facebook profile Amar Bangladesh Party website