Referring to the announcement of the national election schedule as positive, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s Secretary General and former Member of Parliament, Mia Golam Porwar, said, “We have crossed the first step toward a fair, free, and neutral election. But there remain many challenges ahead, which must be faced with courage.”

He said, “To make the election fair, it is essential to ensure equal opportunity or a ‘level playing field.’ Ensuring neutrality across all segments of the administration still remains a challenge. Merely announcing the election schedule does not guarantee a neutral election. Whether the DC, SP, UNO, polling officers, and presiding officers will assist someone or show any bias—this is a highly crucial question.”

Mia Golam Porwar further said, “According to the RPO, after the announcement of the election schedule, all powers related to transfer and posting within the administration come under the Election Commission. Therefore, the responsibility to ensure a neutral election rests with the Commission. The safety of voters as they enter the polling center, cast their vote, and return without hindrance must be ensured. In a national election, each voter has to cast two votes. Ensuring the casting of each vote is a major challenge.”

He said, “To reflect the democratic aspirations of 180 million people, the government, Election Commission, political parties, and the citizens must undertake their responsibilities with determination. The enthusiasm over the election schedule will only be meaningful when the administration remains neutral on the ground, extortionists and terrorists cannot intimidate polling centers, and voting can take place in a festive atmosphere like Eid.”

Highlighting the roles of the Election Commission and the Anti-Corruption Commission, he said, the ACC Chairman has urged people not to vote for the corrupt. Corruption must be shown the red card. Expressing the expectation that the Election Commission will carry out every step after the election schedule with courage, he said, “The Commission must work not in favor of any party but in favor of democracy and the aspirations of the voters.”

He made these remarks while responding to questions from journalists on Thursday (11 December) afternoon after conducting mass public outreach in the Zero Point area of Khulna-5 constituency.

Earlier at noon, Mia Golam Porwar spoke as the chief guest at an exchange meeting with owners and workers at the Allahar Dan Brickfield of Azizur Islam in Kulbaria area of Dumuria Upazila. The event was presided over by the Chief Adviser of the Brickfield Owners Association, prominent businessman and social worker Abdul Latif Jamaddar.

In his speech as chief guest, Mia Golam Porwar said, “According to the Constitution, the National Parliament is formed through voting in 300 seats every five years. Due to the current unjust rule of law, business and trade are being harmed, and the livelihoods of poor people are becoming increasingly difficult. If governance based on the Qur’an and Sunnah is established, the country will benefit. Therefore, if representatives of Islamic parties enter Parliament, it will be possible to build a welfare state.”