Jamaat leader warns of ‘voterless election’
Staff Reporter :
Syed Abdullah Muhammad Taher, Nayeb-e-Ameer of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, has warned that no one can return to power through force or voter suppression in the country’s current political climate.
“A peaceful election must be the only path forward,” he declared at a gathering of party officials in Barishal on Friday morning.
“We want a free, fair and participatory election. If anyone again moves toward a voterless election, the consequences will be the same as in the past,” Taher said, adding that “the people of the country will not accept any conspiratorial election.”
Speaking to party officials at the Barishal District Bar Association Building at 10 a.m., Taher also called for major institutional reforms. He said Bangladesh should adopt a bicameral parliamentary system with an upper house of elected representatives. He also proposed that no individual should be allowed to serve as prime minister more than twice, a measure he argued would promote healthy democratic practices.
In his remarks, Taher suggested that despite encouraging signs in the country’s political atmosphere, long-delayed structural reforms remained significant barriers to progress. “Many fundamental reforms from the past have not yet been implemented,” he said.
He also acknowledged that geopolitical tensions and internal conspiracies were inescapable realities that Bangladesh must confront with responsibility. “Ensuring freedom of expression for the people is essential,” he added.
During the event, Jamaat formally announced its candidates for all 21 parliamentary constituencies in Barishal division ahead of the upcoming general election. The list includes Masud Saidi and Shamim Saidi, sons of the late Delawar Hossain Saidi, who was sentenced to life imprisonment for alleged crimes against humanity.
Among other prominent nominees: Jamaat leader Muazzam Hossain Helal for Barisal-5 and Mohammad Shafiqul Islam Masud for Patuakhali-2.
The full list of candidates announced is as follows: Barisal-1 (Gournadi-Agailjhara): Maulana Kamrul Islam, Barisal-2 (Uzirpur-Banaripara): Master Abdul Mannan, Barisal-3 (Muladi-Babuganj): Zahir Uddin Mohammad Babar, Barisal-4 (Mehendiganj-Hizla): Maulana Abdul Jabbar, Barisal-5 (City and Sadar): Muazzam Hossain Helal, Barguna-1: Mohibullah Harun
Barguna-2: Dr Sultan Ahmad, Patuakhali-1: Nazmul Ahsan, Patuakhali-2 (Bauphal): Mohammad Shafiqul Islam, Patuakhali-3: Professor Shah Alam, Patuakhali-4 (Kalapara-Rangabali): M Kaiyum, Bhola-1: Md Nazrul Islam, Bhola-2: Maulana Fazlul Karim
Bhola-3: Maulana Abdul Haq, Bhola-4: Mostafa Kamal, Jhalokathi-1: Hemayet Uddin
Jhalokathi-2: Sheikh Neyamul Karim, Pirojpur-1: Masud Saidi, Pirojpur-2: Shamim Saidi
Pirojpur-3: Sharif Abdul Jalil.
The meeting was presided over by Jamaat Assistant Secretary General Advocate Muazzam Hossain Helal. Other speakers included Dr Shafiqul Islam Masud, Secretary of Dhaka Metropolitan (South) Jamaat; Principal Zahir Uddin Mohammad Babar, Ameer of Barishal Metropolitan Jamaat; and Professor Abdul Jabbar, Ameer of Barishal District Jamaat.