Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman on Friday said a credible election is impossible under the current circumstances.
Speaking to reporters at Saidpur Airport in Nilphamari before attending a public rally in Rangpur, he said, “Mob culture has been prevailing in the country for a long time, but no Jamaat activist is involved in such violence. Since 1972, we have consistently opposed mob politics.”
Referring to the recent violence in Patgram, Lalmonirhat, Dr Shafiqur said, “Under the current circumstances, a neutral election is impossible. We must first create an environment for credible elections, and that requires fundamental reforms.”
Urging political parties to control their activists to prevent violence, he added, “Political leaders must take responsibility for their own activists. Only then can the state play its role in maintaining order.”
Friday’s rally marked the first major Jamaat gathering in Rangpur in nearly 17 years. Thousands of leaders and supporters from Rangpur and neighbouring districts joined the rally at Rangpur Zilla School ground, with the crowd spilling over onto adjacent streets.
The rally echoed with slogans demanding the implementation of Islamic law and governance by honest leaders.
MSH
