Jamaat chief urges political dialogue to resolve stalemate

Bangla Press Desk:  Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman has urged all political parties to engage in dialogue to find a peaceful resolution to the ongoing political impasse over the July Charter and the proposed referendum.

“The government has suggested that if political parties can sit together and reach a consensus within a week, it would be beneficial. We have called for open discussions in the interest of the country and the nation, and we hope others will respond positively,” he told reporters at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport upon returning to Dhaka around 5:30pm on Tuesday.

Shafiqur Rahman returned home after performing Umrah in Saudi Arabia and visiting the United States, the United Kingdom, and Turkey.

He was received with flowers by a large number of party leaders and activists at the airport’s VIP lounge.

“There will always be differences of opinion among political parties, but I pray there will be no enmity. Differences are the beauty of democracy,” he said, adding that disagreement does not mean the country is unstable.

Regarding BNP’s announcement of its list of candidates, the Jamaat chief said it was not final. “Changes may still occur. We had announced regional candidate lists a year ago and will release the final list from the central level at the appropriate time,” he said.

He added that Jamaat will not contest the polls alone. “We will include many others in the interest of the country and the nation and finalise our list considering all aspects.”

On the timing of the next national election, Shafiqur Rahman said, “We, along with the people, hope to see the election held in February, Inshaallah.”

He also called on the Election Commission to extend the voter registration deadline by at least 15 days to resolve software-related and procedural complications that had prevented many from registering.

Jamaat’s Nayeeb-e-Ameer Mujibur Rahman and Maulana ANM Shamsul Islam, Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar, and Assistant Secretary Generals ATM Masum, Rafiqul Islam Khan, Hamidur Rahman Azad, Abdul Halim, and Moyazzem Hossain Helal were present on the occasion.

BP/TD