Jamaat demands local government poll first

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami today (25 June) expressed their opinion for holding local government polls before the national parliament elections.

The party gave the opinion in a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin at Nirbachan Bhaban at Agargaon in the city.

Assistant Secretary General of the party AHM Hamidur Rahman Azad led the three-member delegation.

"Our demand is to hold local government polls before the national parliament election. We want the local government polls under the interim or the caretaker government", Hamidur Rahman told journalists after meeting with the CEC.

The party also gave their formal opinion on proportionate representation system, expatriates vote and online voting during the meeting.

At the same time, the Jamaat leader also emphasises preparing a level playing field for all political parties aiming to ensure the environment of the national elections.

"Level playing field should be created effectively, not verbally," he said.

The local government elections would be more fair and acceptable if the election is held under the interim government, Hamid observed, saying genuine public representatives would come out in this way.

But, if the local government elections are held under the political government, it will not reflect the public opinion properly, he added.

Terming the reinstatement of the party's registration along with the symbol as a new example, he said the justice cannot be denied by keeping it under the suppression of state machinery or illegal pressure.

Registration of the Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh was cancelled illegally and it was political motivated, he said, adding that in the next elections, Jamaat-e-Islami will take part with its election symbol 'Daripalla' (scale).

Other members of the delegation were party's assistant secretary general Advocate Ehsanul Mahbub Jobayer and Jamaat leader and president of Bangladesh Lawyer's Council Advocate Jashim Uddin Sarker.