A conference of Jamaat-e-Islami’s District and City Ameer was held with the party’s Acting Ameer Professor Mujibur Rahman in the chair. The conference adopted the following proposals to intensify the movement for holding an election under the caretaker government.
No fair or credible election was held under the incumbent Awami League government which has been in office for the last 14 years. Awami League came to the state office through the election held on 29th December of 2008 by maintaining mutual understanding with the military-backed caretaker government. But after coming to the power, in line with the excuse of the Apex court’s verdict, Awami League annulled the caretaker government system on 10th May of 2011. But that very verdict recommended holding another two elections under the caretaker government system. Practically, with this move, Awami League reinstated an authoritarian government system.
The countrymen have been observing that another farcical election was held on 5th January of 2014. But Jamaat-e-Islami and other main political parties did not participate in that election assuming it was full of rigging and irregularities. The countrymen also boycotted this election. As a result, in 153 constituencies, Awami League-backed candidates became elected without any contest which is unprecedented in the history of Bangladesh.
Late amid severe criticisms and controversies, Awami League president Sheikh Hasina was compelled to say that, it is just an election of formalities. Another election will be held shortly. But later, she forgot the promise totally and made continuous efforts to hold the office.
On 29th December of 2018, a day before the election, the law enforcers and the election commission’s staff and officials misused their power and filled the boxes with false ballots. Even many diplomats of those days remarked that they had never witnessed such an election anywhere in the world.
It has been proved in the last 14 years that, a fair and credible election is not possible under the Awami League government. Earlier, the general elections of 1991, 1996, and 2001 were held fairly under the caretaker government and subsequently were appreciated both at home and abroad. Caretaker govenrment system is the brainchild of Jamaat-e-Islami and its credibility and necessity have been substantiated repeatedly under the current regime of Awami League.
The entire nation is united with the demand of holding the next election under a caretaker government. So, this District and City Ameer conferece urged everybody to all including the political parties, professional forums and general masses to intensify the ongoing movement for restoring the caretaker government system.