Jamaat-e-Islami wants the national election to be held before the upcoming Ramadan (in late February, 2026). They also want the Awami League to be held accountable beforehand.
Jamaat Ameer, Dr. Shafiqur Rahman, conveyed this to journalists after a party delegation paid a courtesy call to Nicole Chulick, the U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, on Wednesday.
In response to various questions, Jamaat Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman stated, “We want the election to be held before the upcoming Ramadan. We have always participated in elections. However, the Awami League government has destroyed the electoral system.”
Regarding the meeting, the Jamaat Ameer told journalists: As a political party, they met with us. They wanted to know when the next election would be held. They asked about our economic and foreign policies if we come to power in the future. They also inquired about regional issues.
“We had an open discussion. We requested them to consider the US tariff plan as our country is in a critical situation due to an economy destroyed by the past regime.”
Regarding the election, he saud that waiting until June 2026 for the next election could lead to issues with monsoon season, various storms, and natural disasters. Therefore, Jamaat-e-Islami wants the election to be held before the upcoming Ramadan.
Shafiqur Rahman said, “The Chief Adviser of the government has said that the election will be held between December of this year and June of next year. We want to see if he sticks to his commitment.”
“Our view is that the election must be completed before Ramadan. If we wait until June, there will be monsoon and natural disasters, which could make the election uncertain. That’s why we want the election to be held before that risk arises.”
Regarding the accountability of the Awami League, he said, “Injured people are still in hospital beds. The mothers, sisters, and wives of the martyrs are crying. In this situation, the Awami League must be held accountable. However, we want justice.”