Majority of political parties want polls under PR system: Jamaat after meeting with CA

Highlights

• Taher says 25 of 31 parties want polls under PR system
• Says Jatiyo Party can be banned like Awami League
• Says election roadmap announced without finalising July Charter
• Alleges one party obstructing charter implementation
• Claims a "blueprint" is being made to derail fair election
• Urges interim govt to take stronger steps, act decisively

The majority of political parties want elections under the proportional representation (PR) system, Jamaat-e-Islami Nayeb-e-Ameer Syeed Abdullah Muhammad Taher said today (31 August).

"Out of 31 parties, 25 want PR. The leftist parties and Islamic parties also want the system. Since most parties want PR, it has to be done," he told reporters after meeting with the Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus at his official residence, Jamuna.

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On the issue of banning Jatiyo Party, he said, "The Jatiyo Party was an ally of the Awami League. We have told the chief adviser that just as a decision has been taken regarding the Awami League, a similar decision could also be taken regarding the Jatiyo Party."

Primarily, one party is obstructing the implementation of the charter. They are saying that the next elected government will implement it

amaat-e-Islami Nayeb-e-Ameer Syeed Abdullah Muhammad Taher

Speaking about the July Charter, the Jamaat leader said, "The government should have announced the election roadmap only after a clear decision on the July charter. This is a kind of wrong decision."

He claimed, "Things are happening the way one party wants them to. The rest of us are all together. This has undermined the concept of a level playing field."

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He also alleged that a few parties are obstructing the implementation of the charter. "Primarily, one party is creating the obstruction. They are saying that the next elected government will implement it."

"If so, why did we even have discussions during the tenure of the interim government?" he asked.

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When asked to name the party, Taher said, "You [journalists] will have to find that out on your own."

He also said, "So far, we have only been able to reach a consensus on the charter. But some parties are obstructing its legal basis and implementation. If that doesn't happen, it will be a betrayal of the martyrs and the injured of uprising. Therefore, we have told the chief adviser that the election must be held based on this charter."

"There is still plenty of time for a free and fair election. The government must take the right decisions and initiatives. Every party must take responsibility for its own activists. No one can show what steps this interim government has taken regarding the occupiers. So, how will it implement a crucial responsibility like an election?" he said, adding, "Seems like there is a blueprint being made somewhere against a fair election, but this will not be allowed to happen."

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus holds a meeting with leaders of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami at the State Guest House Jamuna on 31 Aug. Photo: CA Press Wing

Taher further said, "It seems the government has given up. We told them that you need to be stricter now than you have been."

Earlier, around 4:30pm, the Jamaat delegation, led by Taher, arrived at the chief adviser's official residence to discuss the upcoming national election and the prevailing political situation, as tensions grow over reforms, poll date and the implementation of the July Charter.

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus holds a meeting with leaders of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami at the State Guest House Jamuna on 31 Aug. Photo: CA Press Wing

The delegation also includes Secretary General Prof Mia Golam Parwar and assistant secretary generals Maulana Rafiqul Islam Khan and AHM Hamidur Rahman Azad.

Polls, political situation on agenda as CA to sit with BNP, Jamaat, NCP today

Yunus is also set to meet with the National Citizen Party at 6:30pm and the BNP at 7pm, according to the CA's Press Wing.

The BNP delegation will be led by Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and will include senior leaders from the party's Standing Committee, according to BNP Media Cell Member Shairul Kabir Khan.

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The NCP, in a press release issued today, said its delegation will include Chief Organiser Hasnat Abdullah, Senior Joint Convener Ariful Islam Adib, Senior Joint Member Secretary Tasnim Jara and Senior Joint Chief Coordinator Abdul Hannan Masud.

The meetings come at a time when political parties remain at odds over the timeline for elections and state reforms. 

The situation escalated after the Election Commission recently unveiled its election roadmap, declaring that the national polls will be held in the first half of February next year.