Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman on Friday said a free and fair election is not possible without fundamental reforms.
“A number of fundamental reforms must be made for fair elections. We have talked about those reforms. We must realise the reforms and also a fair election, InshaAllah,” he said while addressing a divisional rally at Rangpur Zilla School ground.
Referring to recent incidents of violence at Patgram in Lalmonirhat, he claimed that a neutral election is not possible in the current situation.
“So, the electoral atmosphere must be created first and we are demanding fundamental reforms to create such an environment,” he said.
The Jamaat chief urged leaders of all political parties to act responsibly and take control of their activists to prevent political violence.
He said if anyone dreams of holding an Awami fascism-style election, they turn that dream into a nightmare.
“No administrative coup will be tolerated. No hooliganism in the polling stations and the use of black money will be tolerated,” he added.
About mob violence, the Jamaat Ameer said, “Mob culture has continued in the country for a long time, but no Jamaat activist has ever been involved in such violence. Since 1972, Jamaat has stood firmly against mob politics.”
In the rally, Jamaat’s ‘aspirants for 33 parliamentary seats’ of Rangpur Division were introduced ahead of the next national election.
Jamaat Rangpur city and district units jointly arranged the rally to press home four-point demand, including the trial of all perpetrators of killings carried out the 2024 July-August mass uprising and necessary reform before election.
Addressing the rally, Jamaat leader ATM Azharul Islam said Allah has brought him from the gallows to the public stage.
Had it not been the August 05 uprising, the people would have attended his namaz-e-janaza (funeral).
“Abu Sayed’s sacrifice paved the path to my release… I demand quick trial of his killers,” said Azhar, who had been sentenced to death in a war crimes case but was acquitted following the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s regime on August 5, 2024.
‘We’ve not got justice yet:” Abu Sayeed’s brother
Ramzan Ali, elder brother of Shaheed Abu Sayeed, expressed frustration over the delay of justice. “Even after more than a year, we’ve only seen formal announcements. Four are in jail, and arrest warrants have been issued for 26 others. But this is not enough,” he said.
He demanded that all the accused be brought back from home and abroad, tried publicly under a platform like the July uprising tribunal, and sentenced accordingly.
Jamaat Nayeb-e-Ameer Prof Mujibur Rahman, Secretary General Prof Mia Golam Parwar, assistant secretaries general Maulana Rafiqul Islam Khan and Maulana Abdul Halim, Dhaka South Ameer Nurul Islam Bulbul, Dhaka North Ameer Mohammad Selim Uddin and Islami Chhatra Shibir President Jahidul Islam also spoke at the rally presided over by Rangpur city Jamaat Ameer ATM Azam Khan.
Friday’s rally marked the first major Jamaat gathering in Rangpur in nearly 17 years.
Thousands of leaders and supporters from Rangpur and neighbouring districts joined the rally at Rangpur Zilla School ground, with the crowd spilling over onto adjacent streets.
The rally echoed with slogans demanding the implementation of Islamic law and governance by honest leaders.
Jamaat supporters travelled to Rangpur by rickshaws, auto-rickshaws, and trucks since morning to join the event.