Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman on Wednesday said the country’s electoral “level playing field” has come under serious question following a deadly clash between Jamaat and BNP activists in Sherpur’s Jhenaigati upazila.
Speaking to journalists around 11am at a public meeting in the Mirpur-10 water tank area of the capital, Shafiqur Rahman said the incident reflected growing intolerance and mistrust surrounding the election process.
“This incident indicates intolerance. It shows a lack of trust in the people and an inability to accept others’ success,” he said.
On Wednesday, local leaders and activists of Jamaat-e-Islami and BNP clashed over seating arrangements at an election manifesto-reading program in Jhenaigati.
Jamaat leader Rezaul Karim was killed during the violence.
Later that night, in a post on his verified Facebook page, Shafiqur Rahman called for swift and decisive action by law enforcement agencies.
Warning against election manipulation
Shafiqur Rahman also warned against attempts to manipulate election results, saying Jamaat would not allow the people’s voting rights to be taken away.
“I will give my life if necessary, but I will not let the rights of the people be taken away,” he said, adding that if results were “forcefully taken” as in previous elections, young people would resist.
“The youth of the July revolution did not sleep.”
He made the remarks later in the afternoon while addressing a rally at Karwan Bazar in support of Saiful Alam Milon, the 11-party alliance candidate for the Dhaka-12 constituency.
The Jamaat ameer alleged that attacks on Jamaat leaders and activists across the country, including assaults on women, were destroying the fair environment necessary for elections.
“If the fair electoral process is obstructed, the interim government and the Election Commission will have to take responsibility,” he said.
He also claimed that Jamaat had not filed politically motivated cases or harassed anyone since August 5, and said the party would accept the election outcome if the polls were fair.
“Whoever forms the government through a fair and acceptable election, Jamaat-e-Islami will congratulate them. If we win, others must also have the mentality to accept us,” he said.
Addressing supporters, Shafiqur Rahman said that if Jamaat came to power, all income, expenditure and activities of members of parliament would be made public annually.
Expressing confidence in victory, he said candidates of the 11-party alliance represented the aspirations of the “oppressed people” seeking freedom, and claimed the February 12 election would mark a turning point for the country.
He also vowed a strict crackdown on extortion, corruption and terrorism, which he described as Bangladesh’s main obstacles to development.
Referring to a recent protest by traders at Karwan Bazar against extortion, he said similar resistance was needed nationwide.
He added that Jamaat would work with law enforcement agencies to curb extortion if elected.
Youth and local pledges
Calling youth the future of Bangladesh, Shafiqur Rahman said young people would not be allowed to fall into extortion, terrorism or drug abuse.
“There is no youth like the youth of Bangladesh. Every youth is a craftsman in building the country,” he said, rejecting the idea of unemployment allowances and promising skill-based employment instead.
At the rally, Dhaka-12 candidate Saiful Alam Milon announced a 12-point manifesto, pledging to make the constituency free from terrorism and extortion and to improve conditions for local traders if elected.