Environment for free, fair election yet to be created: Jamaat

Bangla Press Desk:  Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami on Monday said the environment for holding a free, fair, and neutral election has not yet been created in the country.

The party made the observation in a press release issued after a meeting of its Central Executive Council held at its central office in Moghbazar on Monday morning.

The meeting began at around 10:00am and was chaired by Jamaat Ameer Shafiqur Rahman.

The meeting was attended by the party’s nayeb-e-ameers, secretary general, assistant secretary generals, and other members of the Central Executive Council.

According to the statement, the council held detailed discussions on the overall situation ahead of the upcoming referendum and the 13th Jatiya Sangsad election.

The leaders expressed the view that a conducive environment for free, fair, and impartial elections has yet to be ensured.

They alleged that complaints have been received from various parts of the country that some government officials within the administration are working in favour of a particular political party.

The statement also claimed that political leaders and activists are still being killed in broad daylight in different parts of the country, raising serious concerns about law and order.

Referring to the recent political changes, Jamaat said that fascism was ousted through 16 years of continuous movement and struggle, at the cost of around 1,500 lives and leaving more than 30,000 people injured or permanently disabled.

It said the “new Bangladesh” achieved through such sacrifices must not be allowed to fall hostage to any conspiracy, plot, or vested group.

The party called on the Election Commission, election officials, and law enforcement agencies to maintain the highest level of neutrality and to carry out their duties without leaning towards any particular political party.

Jamaat also urged the Election Commission and the government to take firm measures to ensure complete administrative neutrality and to significantly improve the law and order situation in order to guarantee a free, fair, and credible election.

BP/SP