Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami on Monday warned that the current political and security environment ahead of the 13th national election and referendum “cannot be considered a level playing field,” urging the Election Commission (EC) to take immediate, decisive action to curb violence, ensure administrative neutrality and restore voter confidence.
Following a one-and-a-half-hour meeting with Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin and four commissioners at the Election Bhaban in Agargaon, Jamaat Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar told reporters that the party’s field-level programs were increasingly coming under attack.
“Our meetings are being obstructed, our activists targeted, and even women engaged in voter outreach are being harassed and injured,” he said.
“If the Election Commission does not act decisively now, how can we expect a free and fair election once the schedule is announced? The prevailing situation does not ensure a level playing field.”
The delegation submitted what it described as documented evidence of intimidation and asked the EC what steps it had taken so far to address the deteriorating law-and-order situation.
Jamaat called for intensified drives to recover illegal weapons and demanded transparency regarding the firearms looted from police stations during the unrest following August 5.
The party also sought immediate action against any government official who violates administrative neutrality once the election schedule is announced.
Parwar said the party pressed for deployment of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and the military at polling centres, installation of CCTV cameras despite financial constraints, and simplified voter registration for expatriate Bangladeshis.
He noted that citizens expected a transparent election and urged the EC to announce the date without delay, warning that “time is running out with Ramadan approaching.”
Referring to the July 2024 uprising and what he described as the failures of the 2014, 2018 and 2024 elections, Parwar said the nation now demanded a free, fair and credible poll.
According to him, the EC assured the delegation that the election schedule would be declared within the week and confirmed that voting would be held before Ramadan.
