‘If confident of victory, why want to delay election,’ Salahuddin asks Jamaat

BNP senior leader Salahuddin Ahmed on Saturday questioned why Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami is trying to delay the next election through various ploys, including street agitation, if it is so confident about coming to power as its leaders claim.

Speaking at a youth dialogue in the capital, he also criticised Jamaat's demand for banning Jatiya Party and members of the 14-party alliance, while the party is now on the streets together with a party that contested the January 7, 2024 national election held under Sheikh Hasina's rule.

"There were a few rallies of Jamaat and other parties across the country yesterday (Friday). Some newspapers carried headlines today saying that Jamaat leaders claimed they will form the government while BNP will sit in opposition. But who decides that? Is it you, or is it the people? If you are so confident, then why don't you join the election instead of making excuses one after another to obstruct it?" the BNP leader said.

He also said BNP knows what Jamaat's real purpose is-to derail the national election. "We will tell you (people) about it in a few days."

Arpan Alok Sangha organised the Third Dialogue on Youth's State of Thought, titled 'Human Value-based Education and Campuses,' at the Institution of Diploma Engineers, Bangladesh.

Salahuddin, a BNP Standing Committee member, also accused Jamaat of showing "double standards," saying the people are noticing who Jamaat has joined in its simultaneous movement for various demands, including introducing a PR system and banning the 14-party alliance and Jatiya Party (JaPa).

"Among the seven parties (in Jamaat's movement alliance), one is now your ally that took part in the sham election on January 7, 2024," he said without mentioning the party's name.

"If they become innocent just because they are with you, then what about the 28 others who took part in the dummy election with Awami League? Are they sinners? The idea that if someone joins you in the simultaneous movement their past wrongs are forgiven, but if they were with others they are sinners - this principle is not right," Salahuddin said.

In an indirect reference to Islami Andolan Bangladesh, he said this party was also a partner of the Awami League as it joined previous elections, except the 2024 national one, held under Sheikh Hasina.

Salahuddin said differences of opinion are part of democracy, and any party can take to the streets to realise its demands by exercising democratic rights.

"But we have been saying that these issues are still awaiting settlement at the negotiating table. So, are you taking to the streets to apply extra pressure? If you do, we will also have to go to the streets to counter it. Is that what we want now? We want these matters resolved at the negotiating table," he said.

Stating that Bangladesh's democratic culture has changed a lot following last year's mass uprising, the BNP leader said political parties should uphold it through practice.

Salahuddin said political parties need to remain united on national issues, including the country's interests, independence, sovereignty and democracy.

"In democratic practice, there will be debates, differences of opinion and pluralism, but the settlement must come at the dialogue table. If both dialogue and street movement are carried out on the same issue, that is a contradiction," he observed.

The BNP leader said some parties are talking about proportional representation (PR), but it is the people who will decide that.

He questioned whether some processions and rallies with a few thousand people would be enough to establish the PR system without public mandate.

The BNP leader urged political parties to include their demands in their election manifestos and contest the polls. "If the people give their verdict in your favour, you can implement them. That is the democratic way."

Salahuddin said that people tend to blame the government first whenever there is a failure due to the anti-incumbency factor.

He said no one can be both in the government and the opposition at the same time. "Either the door is open or it is closed-you cannot have both."

The BNP leader criticised the decision to place student leaders of the mass uprising in government positions. 

"They could have acted as a guiding force for the nation as a pressure group... but that role is now in question. Even now, those serving in government as student representatives face daily responsibilities and liabilities. No party or organisation can survive by being two-faced towards the people," he opined.

On implementing the July Charter, Salahuddin stressed the need to follow the Supreme Court's guidance to avoid confusion or constitutional conflict. "According to the Constitution, the decisions of the judiciary are final. Ignoring the judiciary's verdict would create chaos. No political solution outside the court's ruling can be sustainable."

He also warned that forcing decisions on the nation is wrong, and reforms must happen gradually to strengthen democracy and build a fair, just and equal society.

Dhaka University Science Faculty Dean Professor Abdus Salam, National Citizen Party (NCP) Southern Region Chief Organiser Hasnat Abdullah, DU Chhatra Dal Joint General Secretary Abidul Islam Khan, and student leaders Tanvir Bari Hamim and Tanvir Al Hadi Mayed, also spoke at the programme, highlighting the importance of youth participation and accountability in politics.