Hold impartial election after finishing reform, trials for crimes against humanity: Jamaat’s Parwar to govt
“The Professor Muhammad Yunus-led interim government has started the march towards handing over power to elected representatives, towards a national election. He has given a deadline. Stay true to that,” he said
Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar has called on the government to hold an impartial election after carrying out reforms and ensuring trials for crimes against humanity that took place during the Awami League regime.
"The Professor Muhammad Yunus-led interim government has started the march towards handing over power to elected representatives, towards a national election. He has given a deadline. Stay true to that," he said at a party conference in Laksam of Cumilla today (18 April).
"Hold an impartial election within that deadline after carrying out reforms, trials of criminals who committed crimes against humanity. We are willing to participate in the election," he added.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
The Jamaat leader also claimed that many have a misunderstanding regarding the Islamist party's stance on election.
"Even yesterday, our ameer said the government has set the deadline for June 2026 or December 2025 [for the next election]. You [Yunus] hold the election at the time you said. But countrymen won't accept it if the election turns out to be pro-violence like the ones held in '14, '18 and '24."
Referring to the AL-led government's 15-year-long regime, Parwar said, "We have gone through a dark era. There is no one in this conference who has not been charged with a case and has not served jail time. Articles 36-39 of the Constitution mention freedom of speech. However, the previous authoritarian government took away that right of the people. It did not allow people to vote."
He also criticised AL's President and ousted premier Sheikh Hasina, saying, "Hasina would label anyone she considered a threat to her power as a Razakar. Hasina also called the students who demanded their rights, Razakars.
"After that, the students took to the streets in the dark of night, saying, 'I am a Razakar, you are a Razakar.' They liberated this country by sacrificing their fresh blood on their chests. Many also call this liberation from tyranny the second independence."
He alleged that the Hasina-led government "hanged Jamaat leaders following the prescription of India, because India had told her that Muslim leaders are a threat to her power".
