Jamaat for nat'l polls in Feb or April: Dr. Shafiqur Rahman

Jamaat Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman

Amir of Jamaat Dr. Shafiqur Rahman said on Tuesday that his party favoured national elections by February 2026 before the Ramadan, or by April before weather gets unpredictable.

Addressing a meet the Press program at a Banani Hotel he said, his party would want correction of the miscarriage of justice done against its former leaders but not vengeance against anybody.

He said his party eagerly awaited Election Commission's action based on the Supreme Court decision to restore its status as it stood before 2013 with registration, and symbol.

Dwelling on the political situation the Jamaat Amir said more than 50 years have passed since Independence which is enough time to get established as a developed country. Many countries have become developed during this period. Vietnam is the striking example. Why we failed. Because rulers instead of concentrating on development wanted to prolong power. Some were accused of corruption some fled the country to escape people's wrath. The nation failed to raise its head due to this. 

Jamaat started its journey in 1979. But the journey was never smooth. It was subjected to different types of oppression. From 2013 onward severe repression was let loose and its top leaders sent to gallows in fabricated cases. In 15 years Jamaat leaders were not allowed to work in peace, were attested, disappeared, not allowed to live in their homes. Many leaders were taken to Aina Ghar, some have returned others not. Ulema were subjected to repression. People who attended the Hefazat rally were ruthlessly killed. The victims lowered in public esteem. Journalists were subjected to harassment. There is no justice in the Sagar Runi murder case.

Jamaat, like others, got registration in 2008. But after a year it was subjected to pressure and a case went to the court. Unfortunately the court took its registration as a party to the brink of cancelation. And the then election commission completed the job.

After the August uprising after long court battle the highest court has now asked the EC to restore the registration. Media, political leaders and member of different diplomatic corps lent their support. He expressed Jamaat's gratefulness to them.

Dr. Shafiqur said, Jamaat believes in the independence and sovereignty of Bangladesh. The pronouncement of justice has created an example which is expected to be replicated.

He paid glowing tributes to the Shaheeds of the July-August movement. Unfortunately, though fascist rulers have fled fascism has not come to an end. This situation can be ended only through a free and fair election. He recalled, Jamaat gave the formula of caretaker government under which in a way the 1991 polls were held. Subsequently after the 2008 election, under a questionable court judgment caretaker system was abolished to make AL the sole contender for power.

The 2014 election was held without voting.  Govt promised to make 2018 polls free and fair. But opposition candidates were held and put to jail. Even then feeling not confident about victory they did balloting on the night before the polling day. In the 2024 election oppositions was allowed no space. AL contested by arranging dummy contestants against the official ones. People thought the fight for democracy was over as AL leaders said they would continue until 2041.

But the move to suppress a small student movement ultimately proved fatal to the autocrats. The whole nation stood behind them and brought the govt down. The govt and its leaders fled creating a new precedent.

Jamaat believes in justice-based rule where there will be no discrimination. No distinction between people of different faiths. But the forces of autocracy are still trying to raise their heads sitting abroad.

We need free and fair election. There should be no polls engineering. Expatriate Bangladeshis should be made voters, 1.10 crore of them who keep the economy going. Their inclusion will make the economy stronger. We hope EC will take quick and effective steps for this, the Jamaat Amir said.

We will not accept hegemonism on our independence, sovereingty economy and culture. We want to respect neighbours. But they should give us our due.

We hope the EC would uphold the SC verdict on our registration. Jamaat will extend all cooperation. In case of failure to do so we will do our part, he cautioned.

We want a democratic, human and exploitation free Bangladesh. Cooperate with us, criticise us for our failures. Nation will benefit from such criticism.

Replying to a question he said, we want to see performance of EC, not judge it in advance. However we want local election first.

Replying to another question Dr. Shafiqur Rahman said, the govt works on five basic reforms including trial and July declaration. A good voter list is needed for a good election. The Interim Government has given a flexible timeline our suggestion is to hold election by Feb but in no way after April keeping in view the weather situation.

He told another questioner, the court says killing of Jammat leaders was a miscarriage of justice. We are preparing to counter the wrong done. However we do not want to cause injustice to anybody using the court.

Replying to another question he said, we give all credit to people for the July movement and the youths for its leadership. We have collected profiles of Shaheeds to give them proper place in history and have published 10 volumes of records so far, he disclosed.

About the party symbol he said, the SC has said the pre-2013 status should be restored. Jamaat should get its symbol, balance back.

We are in favour of all just reforms including reform of parties, he said.

He told another questioner, if field is created we would take part in election even now, why not December.

About the economy the Jamaat chief said, the country has no healthy economic policy, but only day to day economic management. Mismanagement of 15 years, laundering of bank money have created this situation. It should be corrected. There is economy beyond the NBR. And anti-corruption efforts not well enough. We will take steps on those. We want value based education. Only materialistic education will not help, he added.