Jamaat chief calls for unity, restraint as election campaign enters second day

Jamaat-e-Islami chief Shafiqur Rahman has called on political parties and the government to remain united and refrain from any form of interference as the election campaign enters its second day.

Speaking to journalists at the domestic lounge of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka on Friday morning, he said the country was passing through a national crisis that demanded restraint and responsible politics.

“Our first message is that everyone needs to be united during this national crisis,” Shafiqur said.

“Secondly, we should go to the people with practical programmes to build the country, without hurting one another.”

He urged all stakeholders to respect the outcome of the election, saying those elected by voters must be honoured, bdnews24.com reports.

“We should refrain from all kinds of malicious intentions to influence the election in any other way,” he said.

“It is not appropriate for anyone, at any level of the state, to get involved in such activities.”

Referring to the launch of the election campaign, the Jamaat chief said campaigning for both the national parliamentary elections and the referendum had officially begun across the country on Thursday.

“Although the government started the referendum campaign earlier, we did not take part in such activities out of respect for the RPO,” he said.

Shafiqur painted a bleak picture of the country’s political and economic condition, saying Bangladesh had been “practically submerged in quicksand” over the past 54 years.

“The country’s constitutional and democratic institutions have been destroyed, and the nation has been burdened with a debt of about $115 billion,” he said.

“Financial institutions, including banks, have been almost ruined.”

He said the challenges would be immense for whoever forms the next government, pointing to widespread youth unemployment, the absence of a worker-friendly environment in many workplaces, and the failure to ensure safe movement and working conditions for women.

“The national parliament elections are being held amid these realities,” he said.

Raising concerns over voting by expatriates, Shafiqur said ballot papers had already been sent to Bangladeshis living abroad, but had not yet reached some destinations.

“Friday is a weekly holiday in Middle Eastern countries, and Saturday and Sunday are holidays in Western countries. Time is very limited,” he said.

He urged the Election Commission to ensure that expatriate voters receive their ballots on time and that the votes are returned within the stipulated deadline.

“Otherwise, it will be unfortunate for the nation,” he said.

On the referendum, the Jamaat chief expressed hope that voters seeking a break from what he described as decades of “rotten politics” would vote in favour of change.

“Those who want a radical transformation in politics—we hope they will vote ‘yes’ in the referendum,” he said.