Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s Acting Ameer and former lawmaker Professor Mujibur Rahman has addressed the countrymen in a press conference on 8^th January, 2024 rejecting the recently held farcical election and calls for declaring new date for holding fresh election under caretaker government. Jamaat’s central executive committee member and party’s central media and publicity secretary Advocate Matiur Rahman Akanda hosted the press meet. Among others, Jamaat’s Nayeb-e-Ameer and former MP Dr. Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher, Acting Secretary General Maulana ATM Masum, central executive committee member and Dhaka south city Ameer Nurul Islam Bulbul and party’s central working committee member and Dhaka North city’s Acting Ameer Abdur Rahman Musa were present on the occasion.

Professor Mujibur Rahman’s address to the nation is given below:

“All praise to Allah and Salam and Salawat to the Prophet Muhammad (pbuH)”

Dear journalists and the fellow countrymen,

Assalamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullah.

We have appeared before you in a crucial moment in the politics of Bangladesh. The people have been conducting movement for securing voting rights and democracy.  The incumbent government has been holding office forcefully for last 15 years. They have arranged this election on 7^th January to linger their tenure. Their submissive election commission has declared election schedule accordingly. Jamaat-e-Islami and other opposition parties rejected that schedule and continued their peaceful movement for holding free, fair, credible and inclusive election under a caretaker government. The government repressed the opposition leaders and activists severely and they plotted conspiracy to renew their regime by holding a farcical election on 7^th January. But the countrymen overwhelmingly responded to the call of Jamaat-e-Islami and other opposition parties. They boycotted the election and remined refrained from casting votes. Ignoring all threats and warnings, the people implemented their courageous decision and this is why, I am congratulating and appreciating the countrymen. People’s bold role will be regarded as a historic incident in the politics of Bangladesh.

Bangladeshi people never commit mistake while taking collective decisions. Since the massive movement of 1969, in all movements people were united and made the movement successful. Right now, people are conducting movement for restoring democracy and voting rights. Democratic worlds and the institutions repeatedly expressed their desire to hold an inclusive and fair election. But denying the ongoing movement and the recommendations of all corners, the government started plotting conspiracy to remain in power. As a part of the conspiracy, they allowed the partymen to contest in this election as independent, and dummy candidates in order to ensure better turnout. Top opposition leaders were arrested as well. From 28^th October to 7^th January, 35 thousand leaders and activists of Jamaat-e-Islami and other opposition parties have been arrested. In last two months, more than 1600 opposition men were sentenced imprisonment for different terms in 62 cases. The government’s plan was to repress the citizens and to stage a farcical election by rigging and intimidations. But the countrymen courageously rejected and boycotted the election of 7^th January. This election has no credibility and acceptance at all.

Dear journalist friends,

We have been saying repeatedly that, election without a caretaker government can never be free, fair and credible. In particular, no election under the regime of Awami League was acceptable and fair. The people did not go to the polling center in 2014. Candidates were declared victorious uncontested in 154 constituencies. Prime Minister at that time had said, it is an election of formality and another election is going to be held shortly. But she did not keep her words. Again in 2018, she also promised to hold a credible election. Keeping trust on her words, the opposition took part in that election. But Awami League cadres filled the ballot box in the previous night before election day. In addition, no local government election under this regime including city corporation election, Upazila, municipality and union council elections were credible and accepted.

Almost 18 months before the 12th national election, from a press conference Jamaat-e-Islami had upheld the demands of holding election under caretaker government. All parties in opposition became united to press home the same demand. But as per its plan, the government kept the opposition out of the electoral process and arranged this farcical election. By boycotting the election, the people have demonstrated their support for caretaker government system.  

Dear countrymen,

You have witnessed the farce, which have been made on 7^th January in the name of election. Now, we are going to present some evidences of these farces:

1. Till 11 in the morning, except a few, no one was seen in the polling centers.
2. Even, minors of 7 years were seen to cast votes.
3. In many centers, on-duty Ansar members were seen to cast votes.
4. In many constituencies, result sheets were made prepared even before the vote counts.
5. False voters were kept in queue in exchange for money and such footages of money transaction have been telecasted by several media.
6. Due to poor presence of the voters, the ruling party cadres have got the chance to rig the election freely.
7. We saw several nominees and voters to put seal in the ballot papers even outside the booth in broad daylight.
8. Election commission primarily stated that 28% votes have been casted and at that time, someone from the back loudly said that 40% votes have been casted. These footages were also seen in various media.
9. International observers visited various polling centers of the capital and stated that we saw a low turnout. Several of them said that, we did not see any democracy here.
10. It is stated about the farcical election of Bangladesh that, “it is marked with low turnout, poor presence of the voters, marred by crackdown and boycotts. People were least enthusiastic about these votes.”

Dear countrymen,

At least 3 thousand crore taka has been spent in this election. Except this huge expense of the public fund, there was no achievement in this election. As the people did not take part in this election, so the government has no moral right to stay in power. For the greater interest of the country and the nation, we are urging to cancel the farcical election and also to declare new date for holding a fresh election under a caretaker government. The countrymen have set a historic example by boycotting the election and also by remaining refrained from casting votes. We are expecting that the government will pay due respect and fulfil the public desire.

I am urging the fellow countrymen to make the programs, declared by Jamaat-e-Islami and other opposition parties successful in order to secure voting rights and democracy in the country.