No fair poll possible under AL govt: Jamaat

Staff Reporter :
Fair elections are not possible under Awami League-led party government without a non-partisan, impartial caretaker administration, leaders of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami told the Election Exploratory Mission of the European Union (EU) on Saturday.

Jamaat’s Nayeb-e-Ameer Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher led the 4-member delegation during meeting with the EU delegates.
After an hour-long meeting at the EU embassy from 2:30pm, Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher said, “The national elections of 2014 and 2018 have proved beyond doubt that fair, free and impartial polls cannot be held under Sheikh Hasina government. So, we clearly told the EU delegates that the next election should be held under the non-partisan neutral caretaker government. Apart from this, the people of Bangladesh will not go to the elections under the AL-led government. The people of the country won’t accept fraudulent and rigged elections in the future anymore.

He also said that they have suggested the EU to send election observers only when a fair election ground is created in Bangladesh. “Otherwise, if there are elections like 2014 or 2018, sending observers there will only give legitimacy to that,” he added.

Acting Secretary General Mawlana ATM Masum, Central Publicity Secretary Md Matiur Rahman Akanda and Prof Abdur Rab were also present among the leaders.
The former lawmaker Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher said they discussed in details the current political situation, upcoming elections and how to create a transparent, credible, participatory, level playing field for elections under the caretaker government.

Jamaat-e-Islami leader claimed that the government is not allowing them to hold meetings, gatherings and opening all their offices just four months before the national elections. So, there is no chance to expect the next elections will be free, fair and impartial under the AL government, he added.
In 2014, the whole nation saw that 154 Awami League MP candidates were elected without vote.