No Election Without Meeting Demands: Jamaat

Jamaat Assistant Secretary General Hamidur Rahman Azad was briefing reporters after a meeting with the CEC AMM Nasir Uddin

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has declared its readiness to participate in the upcoming 13th national election but warned that the polls cannot be held unless its key demands and conditions are fulfilled.

The party made its position clear on Wednesday following a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin at the Election Commission (EC) headquarters in Dhaka.

A five-member Jamaat delegation, led by the party’s Assistant Secretary General Hamidur Rahman Azad, sat with the CEC to present their views and demands. Other members of the team included central working council member Jasim Uddin Sarkar, Dhaka City North Nayeb-e-Ameer Abdur Rahman Musa, Dhaka City Secretary Yasin Arafat, and head of the engineering division Abid Hasan.

Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Hamidur Rahman Azad said Jamaat is preparing for the election but stressed that a “level playing field” has not yet been created in Bangladesh’s political environment.

“A fair election requires equal opportunities for all political parties, which is still absent,” he said. “We strongly emphasised that such conditions must be ensured before the polls. Otherwise, it will not be possible to hold the election.”

The Jamaat leader said the party had proposed either February or April for the election timeline and expressed readiness to contest if the government and EC agreed. “We have no objection to February. If the government is prepared, the election can be held within this timeframe,” he said.

On the question of proportional representation (PR), Hamidur Rahman reiterated Jamaat’s long-standing demand for the system to be introduced in Bangladesh. “We firmly believe the PR system is the best way to ensure free and fair elections. Under this system, every voter’s opinion would be properly valued, and it would strengthen democracy,” he argued.

Hamidur Rahman further disclosed that Jamaat is preparing to field candidates in all 300 constituencies and has already begun efforts to mobilise public opinion in their favour. “We are reaching out to the people. Our preparations are in full swing,” he said.

The delegation also raised concerns regarding constituency boundaries and other election-related issues. “We placed our opinions before the Election Commission. The CEC assured us that wherever our points are valid, rational, and legally feasible, the commission will consider them,” Hamidur Rahman told reporters.

Jamaat’s stance highlights the growing debate over electoral fairness, proportional representation, and the need for a conducive political environment as Bangladesh heads toward the next general election.