Staff Reporter :
Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s Ameer, Dr. Shafiqur Rahman, said his party want the next election to be participated by not only his party but also every political party.
“We may have differences of opinion, but please pray that there are no divisions among us.
Differences in views will remain – that is the beauty of democracy. We are not ready to believe that just because of differences in opinion, there has been conflict or the country has become unstable,” Dr. Shafique said.
Jamaat Ameer said, “We, you, and all the people of the country – everyone wants to see the election in February, Insha’Allah. Not just us, but everyone together.” Dr. Shafiqur Rahman returned home early Tuesday after performing Umrah in Saudi Arabia and visiting the United States, the United Kingdom, and Turkey.
Upon his arrival at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport’s VIP lounge at 5:30 am, party leaders and activists greeted him with flowers. During a brief press briefing there, he made the above remarks.
Dr. Rahman said, “As you may know, I left the country on the 19th of last month to perform Umrah. After completing the Umrah in three days, I reached JFK Airport in the U.S. on the morning of the 22nd at 9 am by the grace of Allah.
During my eight-day stay, I met with various officials and representatives of important government and non-government institutions and individuals. In a short time, I was able to visit four U.S. cities – New York, Buffalo, Michigan, and Washington, D.C.”
Among those present at the event were, Naeb-e-Ameers Professor Mujibur Rahman (former MP) and Maulana ANM Shamsul Islam (former MP); Secretary General Professor Mia Golam Porwar (former MP); Assistant Secretary Generals Maulana ATM Masum, Maulana Rafiqul Islam Khan, Dr. Hamidur Rahman Azad (former MP), Maulana Abdul Halim, and Advocate Moyazzem Hossain Helal; Central Executive Council members Saiful Alam Khan Milon, Advocate Matiur Rahman Akand (also Secretary of Central Media and Publicity Department), Principal Md. Shahabuddin, Mobarak Hossain, Nurul Islam Bulbul (Ameer, Dhaka South City), Md. Selim Uddin (Ameer, Dhaka North City), and Dr. Shafiqul Islam Masud (Secretary, Dhaka South City), among others.
Dr. Shafique said, “I also had the opportunity to meet a large number of expatriate Bangladeshis living in the U.S., to listen to their concerns, and to reassure them on several matters.
I gave them two important messages. The first message is that Bangladesh belongs to all of us. After years of deprivation, oppression, and fascist rule, Bangladesh is now free.
Those living abroad have fought alongside our people in this struggle for liberation. Their contribution is significant, and we have expressed our gratitude and thanks for that.”
He added, “We also reminded them that one of the greatest rights of expatriates – the right to vote – was long denied.
It was we who first raised this demand, and we have not given it up. We have raised this issue with the Chief Adviser, the Election Commission, and all other relevant authorities on behalf of expatriates.
We thank the government and the Election Commission for taking the initiative, for the first time, to register a large number of expatriates as voters. However, there are still some problems.
The deadline for voter registration was set for October 30, but the software installed for registration did not function properly. As a result, many who wanted to register could not do so.
We demand that the Election Commission extend the deadline by at least 15 more days and simplify the process so that expatriates can register easily.
Moreover, some additional conditions were imposed.
We believe that a national ID card is sufficient to prove citizenship. If someone has a valid passport, there is no need for other documents.
Conditions like submission of utility bills or holding tax receipts are unnecessary – many who have been abroad for 10-20 years don’t use such services anymore. We call for these requirements to be simplified.”
