Today, Wednesday, 7 January at 9:00 a.m., a three-member delegation led by Ms. Paola Pampaloni, Director of the Asia and Pacific Department of the European External Action Service (EEAS), paid a courtesy call on Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman at his office in Bashundhara. Other members of the delegation were His Excellency Mr. Michael Miller, Ambassador of the European Union, and Ms. Monika Bylaitė, Deputy Head, South Asia Division, European External Action Service.
Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami's Nayeb-e-Ameer and former lawmaker Dr. Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher; Assistant Secretary General and Head of the Jamaat's Central Publicity and Media Department Advocate Ahsanul Mahboob Zubair; senior lawyer of Bangladesh Supreme Court Advocate Mohammad Shishir Monir; and Jamaat Ameer's advisor on foreign affairs Professor Dr. Mahmudul Hasan were also present at that time.
At a brief press briefing after the meeting, Dr. Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher said that discussions were held with the European Union regarding sending observers for the upcoming election and on the Rohingya issue.
He said, “We have stated that a transparent and credible election in Bangladesh is extremely necessary. The crisis that has developed in Bangladesh over the last 55 years requires a free, fair and neutral election to overcome it. If the upcoming election is not free, fair and neutral, the crisis will not end; rather, the crisis will be created anew and the situation will become even more severe. We have clearly conveyed this concern to them.”
He further said that over the past one or two weeks, the way the government and law-enforcement agencies have leaned towards a particular party and the manner in which the administration has shown allegiance to one party have created apprehension as to whether the upcoming election will be like the rigged elections of the past. “We believe that such rigged elections will take Bangladesh towards destruction,” he added.
“We appeal to the Election Commission, the government and the concerned authorities to be alert in this matter right now and to play a neutral role to protect Bangladesh,” he said.
He also stated that the European Union has informed them that they will send observers for the upcoming election, which is praiseworthy. Dr. Taher further said, “We have told them that if we come to power, we will plan to run the government collectively and will work on the Rohingya issue together with all domestic and foreign stakeholders, Insha’Allah.
The European Union has told us that they will play an active role in this matter. They hope that the upcoming election in Bangladesh will be fair. On behalf of Jamaat-e-Islami, we have also assured them that Jamaat-e-Islami will do whatever is necessary to ensure that the election is fair and free and will provide overall cooperation.”
