EU observers ask Jamaat on governance agenda

Staff Reporter :

A visiting high-level delegation of the European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) has asked Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami what its main priorities would be if the party assumes responsibility for governing the country.

The query was raised during a courtesy meeting with Jamaat Ameer Shafiqur Rahman at his office in Bashundhara on Saturday, Jamaat Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar told journalists afterward, citing a press release issued by the party.

In response, Shafiqur Rahman outlined three priorities: introducing an education system aimed at producing ethical, skilled, technical, productive, and humane citizens; building a corruption-free society; and ensuring social justice.

The EU delegation included election observation and follow-up expert Mette Bakken, legal expert Manuel Wally, and Baiba Zarina, deputy head of delegation of the European Union Mission to Bangladesh.

Discussions focused on the upcoming national election and observation activities. The mission informed the Jamaat chief that it plans to deploy observers in all 64 districts and will publish a detailed report after the polls.

Parwar said Jamaat reiterated its readiness to join the February elections but stressed that participation is contingent on the legal recognition of the July Charter, the reform framework put forward by student and civic groups in the wake of last year’s uprising.

During the meeting, Shafiqur Rahman also told the delegation that, beyond election observation, the European Union’s technical support would be essential to ensure a free, fair, credible, and impartial election, according to the press release.