The annual session of the Central Majlish-e-Shura of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami was held today, 29 November, at the Al-Falah Auditorium in Moghbazar, presided over by the Ameer of the organization, Dr. Shafiqur Rahman. After reviewing the overall prevailing situation in the country, the following proposal was adopted:
“This session of the Central Majlish-e-Shura of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami notes with deep concern that although the government has announced that a referendum and the national parliamentary elections will be held on the same day in the coming month of February, it has failed to create a hopeful environment conducive to holding a free, fair, neutral, and participatory election. It may be mentioned that in order to hold a free, fair, neutral and participatory election in the country, it is the responsibility of the current government to create an appropriate electoral environment.
On behalf of the eight-party alliance including Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, the demands were raised for a referendum before the election, along with a national parliamentary election by the PR (Proportional Representation) system, trial for the mass killings, corruption, and oppression committed by the fugitive fascist Awami government, and suspending the activities of the Jatiya Party and the 14-party alliance to ensure a level playing field in order to hold a free, fair, and neutral election. But the government sidestepped these demands of the eight-party alliance and created various questions by declaring that the referendum and the national parliamentary election would be held on the same day.
The basis of the July Declaration is the referendum. The legal foundation will be established only if the July Charter is approved in the referendum, and the national parliamentary election will be held on the basis of that July Charter. If the referendum and the national parliamentary election are held on the same day, will the result of the referendum be announced first? Or will the result of the national parliamentary election be announced first? If the referendum results are announced first and the ‘No’ vote wins, then what will happen to the national parliamentary election? Some members of a major political party are campaigning for the ‘No’ vote. On the other hand, the defeated fascist Awami League, the Jatiya Party and the 14-party alliance, and some leftist parties including the CPB have already taken a position in favor of the ‘No’ vote. The Central Majlish-e-Shura of Jamaat-e-Islami calls upon the people of the country to ensure victory for the ‘Yes’ vote in favor of reforms in the referendum.
This conference of the Central Majlish-e-Shura of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami believes that there is no alternative but holding the national parliamentary election under the PR system in order to free the country’s electoral system from terrorism, corruption, and the influence of black money, and to institutionalize democracy by making it sustainable through free, fair, and neutral elections. Jamaat-e-Islami remains steadfast in its demand for elections under the PR system. Before the national parliamentary elections, the Central Majlish-e-Shura of Jamaat strongly demands that the government accept the demands for holding a referendum and a national parliamentary election under the PR system, and suspending the politics of the Awami League, Jatiya Party, and the 14-party alliance partners.
This session of the Central Majlish-e-Shura of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami further observes with concern that although the political activities of the fascist Awami League have been suspended during the trial of Awami League leaders, their ally Jatiya Party and the 14-party alliance have not halted their malicious activities. They are continuing their fascist operations secretly and openly in various ways, severely deteriorating the law-and-order situation in the country and engaging in conspiracies to foil the election. Even leaders of the Jatiya Party are participating in talk shows on different TV channels and misleading the public with deceptive statements. Terrorists of the Awami League, Jatiya Party, and 14-party alliance are deteriorating the law-and-order situation of the country from the shelter and patronage of a major political party.
The government has still not created a favorable environment for a free, fair, and neutral election in the country. Political killings and violence continue in Dhaka, Chattogram, Khulna, and in various parts of the country.
On 27 November, in Ishwardi of Pabna district, BNP terrorists attacked a Jamaat procession openly carrying firearms and various weapons, injuring 60–70 leaders and activists of Jamaat-e-Islami. Many of them are still in critical condition. In that incident, Sayeed Hasan, the Ishwardi correspondent of the daily Desh Bulletin, also did not escape from the attackers. Allegations of bias have been raised against the OC of Ishwardi police station. In addition, in recent times BNP terrorists have carried out attacks on Jamaat leaders and activists in various places including Hajiganj of Chandpur, Noakhali Sadar, Melandah of Jamalpur, Feni Sadar, Naogaon Sadar, Lakshmipur Sadar, Araihazar of Narayanganj, Barlekha of Moulvibazar, Gaibandha, Joypurhat, and Maheshpur of Jhenaidah. They are even obstructing the female workers of Jamaat from carrying out Dawah activities. How can one expect a free, fair, and neutral election under such circumstances? From this it is evident that the government has still failed to create an appropriate environment for the election.
The Central Majlish-e-Shura of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami observes with astonishment that in Ishwardi of Pabna, BNP terrorists openly attacked local leaders including the district Ameer of Jamaat with firearms. Yet, some newspapers published reports today, 29 November, stating that ‘Jamaat activist is the youth who went viral with revolver in Ishwardi, Pabna.’ The Central Majlish-e-Shura strongly condemns and protests such baseless and false information terrorism and urges the concerned newspaper authorities to refrain from carrying out such information terrorism against Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami.
The Central Majlish-e-Shura of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami expresses the opinion that in order to create a proper election environment, an immediate list of armed terrorists must be prepared, they must be arrested and brought under the rule of law, and all illegal weapons must be recovered.
We have recently observed that a Baul singer named Abul Sarkar from Manikganj made heinous, unjust, and obscene comments about Allah and the Messenger (SAW), severely hurting the religious sentiments of the Muslim population of this country. In the face of the mass movement of the people, the government became compelled to arrest him. Various sources indicate that Baul Abul Sarkar is an associate of the fugitive Awami League. He must be given appropriate punishment. Some people are attempting to create planned disorder in the country by taking his side. The Central Majlish-e-Shura of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami strongly demands that the government stop such malicious activities. If the patience of the people breaks, there is a risk of deterioration in the law-and-order situation.
Therefore, this session of the Central Majlish-e-Shura of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami strongly demands that the government accept the five-point public demand of the eight-party alliance including Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, and take strong steps to create an environment for a free, fair, neutral, and participatory election.”
