Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s Acting Ameer and former lawmaker Professor Mujibur Rahman addressed on 5^th January, 2024 urging the countrymen to boycott farcical election, to remain refrained from casting votes and also to launch massive movement for restoring voting rights and democracy.

Acting Ameer Professor Mujibur Rahman’s address to the countrymen is given below:

Dear countrymen,

Assalamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullah.

On behalf of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, I have come in front of you during a crucial moment of the nation. Bangladesh had emerged as an independent and sovereign nation in the global map in exchange for unlimited sacrifices, blood and lives. The countrymen expected that democracy, rule of law, human rights and rights to survive will be established in the independent nation. People will get back their rights to move and speak freely. But 53 years after the independence, Bangladesh is being introduced now as a nation without democracy. In last 15 years, all constitutional institutions have been destroyed completely. Ignoring the public views, the ruling regime is trying to stay in power by force in a bid to detach Bangladesh from the democratic world.

You all know that; a farcical election is going to be held on 7^th January. Almost all the political parties have boycotted this election already. The countrymen have no interest about this election. The people have prepared to boycott the upcoming election as well.

Dear countrymen,

You all are informed that; no election was held in 2014. Ruling party candidates were declared winner uncontested in 154 constituencies. Even the Prime Minister said that it is just an election of formality and another election will be held shortly. But she did not keep her word.

Even in the election of 2018, she also promised that the election will be held freely and credibly. But her government did not make that happened. The voting activities were completed in the previous night of the election day. That election became marked worldwide as the midnight election.

We have been observing that, in last 15 years, the government has snatched the voting rights away and made the country a nation of looters. 11 lakh crore taka have been laundered in foreign nations. Whoever have become the candidates in 7^th January election, their affidavit shows that in last 15 years, their net amounts of wealth have increased 200/300 times. According to the newspaper reports, 93 percent of the ruling party Awami League candidates are multimillionaire. Average incomes of 265 candidates are two crore 14 lakh taka. After coming to the office, they looted the public wealth amount of 13thousand 6 hundred and 20 crore taka.

Dear countrymen,

Actually, no election is being held on 7^th January. It is nothing but an arrangement for Awami League to come back to the power. The countrymen have no interest and relation with this election. We are also observing that our neighboring India is nakedly supporting India defying the choice of the people of Bangladesh. Earlier, during the election of 5^th January, 2024, the Indian government had supported Awami League as well. Prior to that election, the then India’s foreign secretary Sujata Singh visited Dhaka and hold meeting with various parties and pressed them to take part in that controversial election. As a result, Awami League could organize that one-sided election.

Fellow countrymen,

Democratic nations of the world have extended support to the people’s movement for restoring democracy and voting rights. But once again, India took stance against the people.

Awami League has put the nation toward severe financial crisis. The country suffering from the burden of loan now. The government has embezzled the money of the people. Huge amounts of money have been looted from various banks which broke the pillar of the national economy. Under the circumstances, it was important to tackle these crises under the leadership of an elected government. But the government has kept the opposition parties out of the election process by making tricks. In last two months, more than 35 thousand leaders and activists of Jamaat-e-Islami and other opposition parties have been arrested. More than one thousand 5 hundred opposition men have been sentenced imprisonment for different terms. Although, the government has arranged some dummy candidates for the elections but so far many of them have moved back from the election. A reign of terror and panic has been created nationwide by conducting abduction, murder, and enforced disappearance. The people are being threatened to go to the polling centers.

7^th January election will not attain public support and participation. It is not any election indeed. The government, which will be formed after the election will be authority without mandate and they will not be able to create any impact across the globe. So, Bangladesh will be detached from the world gradually. The national economy will suffer massively. So, to save the nation from inevitable crisis, we are urging the people to boycott the farcical election. We are urging the government to show respect to the public choice and to stepdown immediately in order to arrange a credible and participatory election under a caretaker government. Our calls to the nation are:

1. Boycott the farcical election
2. Be refrained from casting votes on 7^th January
3. Observe Jamaat declared nationwide on 6^th and 7^th January in order to secure voting rights
4. Take part in the unified movement to save the nation

The movement of the people did not go in vain in the past, will not go this time as well. May Allah bless and help us all. Ameen.