‘We won’t join local polls without level playing field’

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer and Leader of the Opposition in parliament Dr Shafiqur Rahman has expressed concern over the prospect of fair local government elections, alleging that partisan appointments to the Election Commission and threats to withhold government funds from areas where BNP candidates lose could undermine the electoral process.

He made the remarks during an exchange of views with print and electronic media journalists at Moulvibazar Circuit House around 11am on Saturday.

Shafiqur alleged that a retired BNP cadre had been appointed as an additional secretary at the Election Commission, questioning the appointment of a politically affiliated person to the institution.

“The public is asking why a partisan person had to be brought into this institution,” he said.

He also criticised the chief whip of parliament, alleging that he had threatened to withhold government allocations from areas where BNP candidates fail to win.

“This is shameful. People are being intimidated in advance. If elections are held amid such intimidation and partisan influence, there is little prospect of them being fair,” he said.

Shafiqur said Jamaat would press for a fair electoral environment and equal opportunities for all political parties before participating in local government elections.

“We will participate in the elections when a level playing field is ensured. We do not want to be anyone’s ‘yes-man’; we want to fight for people’s rights. We want the person chosen by the people through their votes to come to power,” he said.

The meeting was chaired by Moulvibazar district Jamaat Ameer Engineer Md Shahed Ali and moderated by district secretary Md Yamir Ali. Jamaat central assistant secretary-general Advocate Ahsanul Mahbub Zubair and Habiganj district Jamaat secretary Kazi Mohsin Ahmed were also present.

The opposition leader also criticised the government over what he described as a lack of visible progress in improving law and order.

He said the home minister was involved in the work of several ministries despite being primarily responsible for overseeing the Home Ministry.

“But he has failed to control drugs and weapons or restore order in society,” Shafiqur said.
He also questioned the government’s claims that the law and order situation had improved.

“Those responsible for the Home Ministry and other important figures in the government say the situation is better than before. But I have yet to understand the benchmark they are using to make that assessment,” he said.

Addressing journalists, Shafiqur described the media as a mirror of society that reflects its shortcomings.
Recalling restrictions imposed on the media in 1975, he said the country had moved towards a one-party system at the expense of multiparty democracy.

“After independence, the media came under attack in 1975, as did politics. A decision was taken to establish a one-party system instead of multiparty democracy. The media were brought under the government’s complete control, and only four media outlets were allowed to continue operating,” he said.

The visit marked Shafiqur’s first trip to his home district of Moulvibazar since the national parliamentary election. His arrival drew a warm reception from local Jamaat leaders and activists.

Earlier in the morning, party leaders welcomed him at Osmani International Airport in Sylhet.
Those present included central assistant secretary-general Advocate Ahsanul Mahbub Zubair, Sylhet metropolitan Jamaat Ameer Md Fakhrul Islam, Moulvibazar district Jamaat Ameer Engineer Md Shahed Ali, Sylhet metropolitan Jamaat vice-ameer Dr Nurul Islam Babul, Sylhet district Jamaat vice-ameer Professor Abdul Hannan, metropolitan secretary Md Shahjahan Ali, district secretary Md Zainal Abedin, Moulvibazar district assistant secretary Aziz Ahmed Kibria, and Kazi Daiyan Ahmed, president of the Moulvibazar town unit of Islami Chhatra Shibir, among other local leaders.