ছবি: বক্তব্য দিচ্ছেন জামায়াতে ইসলামীর আমির শফিকুর রহমান। আজ সোমবার সন্ধ্যায় রাজধানীর শেরেবাংলা নগরে বাংলাদেশ-চীন মৈত্রী সম্মেলনকেন্দ্রে
With political tensions rising ahead of the upcoming national election, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami chief Shafiqur Rahman addressed a gathering in the capital and warned that any attempt to engineer, manage, or manipulate the electoral process would ultimately fail under public scrutiny and collective political awareness, forcing the perpetrators to retreat. He stated that the country would no longer accept polls resembling the controversial elections of 2014, 2018, or 2024, which were marked by limited participation and widespread criticism. According to him, a substantial portion of the current electorate—especially those now in their mid-30s—have never had the chance to cast a vote freely, illustrating the urgency of ensuring an inclusive, credible, and voter-driven election. Rahman argued that elections must not be shaped by elitist compromise or backdoor arrangements but by direct interaction between voters and candidates. He called for enhanced booth-level security, the installation of CCTV in polling stations, and the use of technology to compensate for limited deployment capacity of law enforcement agencies. Citing financial misconduct and alleged capital flight, he remarked that a few hundred or even a thousand crore taka spent to secure an election would be justified because free and fair elections form the basis of good governance. Touching on wartime history and questions of national recognition, Rahman said that the contributions of military officers and historical figures must be acknowledged to preserve collective memory and strengthen national values. Several retired members of the armed forces attended the event, sharing varied concerns and expectations regarding the forthcoming election and its political implications.
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