Election roadmap: Jamaat accuses CA of breaking pledge
Staff Reporter :
Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s Nayeb-e-Ameer Syed Abdullah Muhammad Taher has accused Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus of violating his earlier commitments by announcing an election roadmap before ensuring visible reforms and justice.
He alleged that the roadmap is essentially a blueprint to foil the prospect of a free and fair election.
Speaking at a gathering of “election coordinators” in Kalikapur union of Chouddagram upazila on Friday morning, Taher said, “The Chief Adviser declared the election schedule even before reaching a final decision on reforms. Justice is yet to be visible. It seems he has bowed his head to some external power and is moving ahead with the polls, which is why the people are concerned.”
The Jamaat leader criticized the interim administration for backtracking on its stated pledges. “They promised neutrality, reforms, and visible justice. Only after that would a truly free and fair election take can place. But the Chief Adviser has broken his promise by announcing the election date,” he said.
He clarified that his party has no objection to polls in February, saying Jamaat is preparing for the February 15 election. “But certain issues must be resolved first. The July Charter must be given a legal basis, and the election must be held in line with it.
Otherwise, this roadmap will only sabotage a fair election. We will not allow that to happen. We will compel the government and the Election Commission to ensure the polls are conducted under proportional representation (PR) as envisioned in the July Charter,” he declared.
Taher went further, terming the commission’s announcement of the roadmap without finalizing whether the election will be held under the traditional first-past-the-post (FPTP) system or the proposed PR system as a “serious crime.” He demanded that the Election Commission apologize to the nation for what he called a premature and irresponsible move.
The meeting, chaired by Chouddagram Upazila Jamaat Ameer Md. Mahfuzur Rahman, was also addressed by central Majlis-e-Shura member Abdus Sattar, Cumilla South district Ameer Mohammad Shahjahan, Cumilla city secretary Mahbubur Rahman, Labor Welfare Federation vice-president Mujibur Rahman Bhuiyan, upazila secretary Belal Hossain, Chouddagram municipality Ameer Mawlana Ibrahim, assistant secretary Abdur Rahim, Kalikapur union Ameer Abul Hashem, and secretary Mukbul Ahmed, among others.
