Six like-minded Islamic parties on Tuesday urged to refrain from announcing the schedule of the 12th National Parliamentary Election without making arrangements for a non-partisan government during the election.
The meeting was held at the central office of the Khilafat Majlis in Paltan led by Khilafat Majlish Amir Maulana Abdul Bashit Azad and the direction of Khilafat Majlish Secretary General Dr Ahmad Abdul Quader.
The six like-minded Islamic parties are Khilafat Majlis, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Bangladesh, Bangladesh Khilafat Andolan, Bangladesh Muslim League, Bangladesh Nizam-e-Islam Party and Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish.
In the meeting, the leaders of like-minded Islamic parties said that without political compromise, the announcement of the schedule would be a joke to the nation. This joke should be stopped and elections should be held under a neutral government. The only solution to the ongoing conflict-violence in the country is national elections under a neutral government.
However, the government is moving towards one-sided elections without paying attention to the demands of the people. This will further worsen the situation.
The government is using state power to stay in control, suppressing dissent through force, arrests, torture, and imprisonment. This is leading the country towards unwanted uncertainty. Common people, including clerics, are also facing harassment, they said.
In the meeting, the leaders expressed that the government should cease jail oppression, assault lawsuits, and muscle-power games.
The nation will not accept it if the Election Commission hastily and unilaterally announces the schedule of elections, ignoring the opinions of political parties and people, they added.
The meeting demanded the mass arrests of opposition political leaders and activists.
Additionally, there was a call for the release of all clerics and ulama, including Maulana Mamunul Haque and Maulana Monir Hossain Qasemi, as well as imprisoned opposition political leaders and activists.
