A statement made by former MP and former Ameer of Chattogram City Jamaat, Shahjahan Chowdhury, at a conference of electoral officials in the Chattogram region has sparked strong reactions in the political arena. The BNP has demanded his arrest in the wake of the statement. On the other hand, Jamaat claims it is not the party’s stance, but his personal opinion.
Nazimur Rahman, member secretary of Chattogram Metropolitan BNP, said, “Shahjahan Chowdhury’s statement proves that Jamaat wants to establish another fascism anew. His statement makes it clear that the upcoming election will not be free and fair. We are demanding his arrest for such a statement.”
Muhammad Shahjahan, central assistant secretary general and Chattogram region director of Jamaat, said, “We have seen the statement. It is entirely his personal opinion. He can best explain it himself. Jamaat does not endorse this statement of his. We have drawn his attention to it immediately. We are also taking our own internal measures regarding this incident.”
He further said, “We believe the administration will perform its duties with full professionalism. We have no reason to interfere here. Those in the administration who have not performed their duties professionally in the past have harmed the country.’
At the electoral officials’ conference held at the GEC Convention Centre in Chattogram city on Saturday night, Shahjahan Chowdhury said, “To win the election, we must bring the administration under our control. The police and the OCs must be at our beck and call. Elections are not won by the people alone; the administration must obey our every command – they must make arrests and file cases as we say.”
Addressing the party’s candidates, he said, “The OC will know your programme in the morning and provide the protocol.” He also said, “The opportunity that has come will not come again,” and advised the electoral officials to “counter the misdeeds of wicked people.”
The chief guest at this conference, which covered the Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Rangamati, Khagrachhari, and Bandarban regions, was Jamaat’s Central Ameer, Shafiqur Rahman.
In the afternoon, after landing by helicopter at the Chattogram Parade Ground, he told journalists, “If the election and referendum are held together, it will be a genocide of the election.” The event was chaired by Nazrul Islam, ameer of Chattogram Metropolitan Jamaat.
Additionally, speeches were given by Central Assistant Secretary General Muhammad Shahjahan, Professor Ahsan Ullah, Anwar Alam Chowdhury, Alauddin Sikdar, Professor Syed Abdul Momin, and others.
