He further said that the Election Commission is a constitutional institution. If any person who was recently active in political activities is appointed to an important position in this institution, questions may arise about the neutrality of the Election Commission. Referring to the recent appointment of Shamsul Alam to the post of Additional Secretary of the Election Commission Secretariat, he said that we have already strongly protested this appointment and demanded its cancellation.
He said that Shamsul Alam was previously involved in significant election activities of BNP. If he is appointed to a constitutional institution like the Election Commission, it could create concerns about the impartial conduct of the upcoming local government elections. We also said that the Commission should more firmly express its own objections and constitutional stance regarding such political appointments. The Election Commission has assured us that they will review the matter internally.
Today, Wednesday, July 29, at 11:00 AM, a delegation of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami held a meeting with the Election Commission at the Election Building in Agargaon, Dhaka. The meeting was led by the organization's Secretary General and former MP Mr. Mia Golam Parwar, and included Assistant Secretary General and former MP Dr. A.H.M. Hamidur Rahman Azad, Assistant Secretary General Advocate Muazzam Hossain Helal, Assistant Secretary General and Secretary of the Central Publicity and Media Department Advocate Ehsanul Mahbub Jubayer, and Central Working Committee members Advocate Jasim Uddin Sarkar and Advocate Shishir Mohammad Monir.
Mr. Mia Golam Parwar made these remarks during a brief press briefing after the meeting.
He said that we have also opposed the Election Commission's recommendation to disqualify teachers of MPO-listed schools, colleges, and madrasas from local government elections. As citizens of the country, MPO-listed teachers have constitutional political and electoral rights. In the past, teachers have participated in local government elections. There is no such restriction on their participation in national elections either. He questioned whether it would be discriminatory to disqualify MPO-listed teachers only for local government elections while allowing them to participate in national elections. On behalf of Jamaat, the Election Commission has been urged to reconsider this decision and restore the previous provisions. The Commission has assured that it will review the matter.
He further said that if the activities of a political party are officially banned, the participation of office-bearers of that party in elections must also be considered. We believe that if a person participates in elections while holding a leadership or official position in a banned political party, that can be considered part of political activity. Therefore, office-bearers of banned political parties have no opportunity to participate in elections.
The Secretary General of Jamaat said that we have also drawn the Election Commission's attention to individuals appointed on political considerations in city corporations, district councils, and various important government and statutory bodies under the current government. Before local government elections, those politically appointed in these institutions may increase their popularity through government facilities and responsibilities and later become candidates in elections. This could create an uneven competitive environment. Therefore, we have demanded that politically appointed individuals be declared ineligible to contest local government elections.
He said that if local government elections are held without party symbols and in a non-political manner, then ministers, members of parliament, and other politically important persons should not have the opportunity to participate in meetings, rallies, or campaigns for any candidate. We have demanded strict restrictions considering such activities as political engagement.
Mia Golam Parwar said that announcing the election schedule and date is the constitutional responsibility of the Election Commission. However, at various times, government ministers and political figures have announced different dates regarding when the election will be held. The political government may have a decision on whether the election will take place, but the responsibility for determining and announcing the election schedule, date, and timeline lies with the Election Commission. Therefore, the Commission must properly exercise its constitutional powers and duties in this regard.
He further said that the Election Commission is an independent constitutional institution, and the constitution has given it extensive powers for conducting elections. The Commission should perform its duties independently while maintaining its constitutional separate entity and responsibilities from the government. He called upon the Election Commission to be more vigilant and proactive, saying that public confidence in the Commission depends on how impartially it can exercise its constitutional powers.
He said that following a court order regarding an electoral matter in Chattogram, the gazette was published and the oath was administered quickly. There are questions about how the gazette and oath were arranged so quickly before the court's order process was completed. We have also asked the Election Commission for an explanation on whether there was any political pressure in this regard.
In response to a question about the parliamentary membership of Gazi Nazrul Islam, who was expelled from Jamaat, Mr. Mia Golam Parwar said that according to the party constitution, expulsion is the highest organizational punishment if guilt is proven through investigation. We have publicly expelled that person from the party. He is no longer a member of Jamaat. Whether his parliamentary membership will continue is a constitutional and legal matter. The authority to decide on this matter lies with the Election Commission and the Speaker of the National Assembly. We have left the matter to their constitutional decision.
Referring to various information published in the media and social media regarding a recent incident in Jashore, Mr. Mia Golam Parwar said that Jamaat-e-Islami has no objection to presenting the true facts. However, exaggerating any incident or attempting to defame anyone for political purposes is not acceptable.
He called upon journalists to verify the reality before publishing any incident and to present truthful and objective news. He sought the cooperation of the media in this regard.
Mia Golam Parwar said that in the meeting with the Election Commission, Jamaat-e-Islami presented its position on various important issues to make the local government elections fair, impartial, transparent, and acceptable. The Election Commission listened to our statements attentively and assured us of reconsidering several matters. Jamaat-e-Islami hopes that the Election Commission will play an effective role in ensuring a free, fair, and acceptable election by independently exercising its constitutional powers.
