Top Jamaat leaders meet Army Chief, term it a ‘courtesy call’

Jamaat-e-Islami’s top leaders met the Army Chief on Saturday night, as speculation grows over Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus’s possible resignation.

Party Ameer Shafiqur Rahman and Nayeb-e-Ameer Syed Abdullah Muhammad Taher met General Waker-uz-Zaman at Dhaka Cantonment after a meeting with Yunus at Jamuna, the official residence of the chief adviser.

Jamaat leader Taher confirmed the meeting, saying it was held at their request. “It was not a formal meeting, but a courtesy visit,” he said. “There were some informal discussions.”

He said Jamaat wants a fair election and is trying to help build understanding and coordination between the government and the army.

Professor Yunus, during a meeting with advisers last Thursday, reportedly expressed frustration over the current political situation.

He is said to have questioned whether there was any point in continuing in his role if he could not work effectively.

Later, after a one-to-one meeting with Chief Adviser Yunus, National Citizen Party Convenor Nahid Islam told the media that Yunus was “considering resignation.”

Yunus has since met leaders of BNP, Jamaat, and National Citizens Party and other political parties.

According to relevant sources, the Jamaat-Army Chief meeting was part of wider efforts to reduce tensions between the government and the military.

Unconfirmed reports have it that leaders of another major political party met the Army Chief earlier.