Jamaat-e-Islami’s Nayeb-e-Ameer Dr Syed Abdullah Muhammad Taher, in an indirect reference to BNP, has said that if any party is assured of coming to power, the people will not accept that election. He insisted that the polls must be held under the legal framework of the July Charter, using the proportional representation (PR) system.
Taher made the remarks on Wednesday while addressing a protest rally at Bijoynagar in the capital, organised by Jamaat’s two Dhaka city units. The rally was held to press for neutral elections based on the legal foundation of the July Charter.
Calling on all political parties to sit together to create a path for impartial polls, he warned that failure to do so could lead to a repeat of the 1/11 political crisis. He added that if the interim government fails to ensure a fair electoral environment, the people will not forgive them.
Criticising a party for promising reforms only after coming to power, he questioned why such changes could not be made now. “There is a flaw in their stance. Who has guaranteed that you will come to power? Surveys show your popularity is declining, while ours is rising. Moreover, 71% of the people want voting under the PR system,” he said.
The nayeb-e-ameer pointed out that except for one party, all others rejected the July declaration announced by the chief adviser, which he claimed reflected only that party’s opinion. He warned that if the July Charter is framed according to one party’s wishes, the public will once again take to the streets. He urged all political parties to act with wisdom to resolve the ongoing crisis.
Dhaka South Jamaat Ameer Nurul Islam Bulbul addressed the rally. Assistant Secretaries Maulana Abdul Halim and Rafiqul Islam Khan, Dhaka North Ameer Selim Uddin spoke at the event among others. It was conducted by Dhaka South Secretary Dr Shafiqul Islam Masud and Dhaka North Secretary Rezaul Karim. The event concluded with a protest procession in the capital.