A month before the highly anticipated general elections in Bangladesh, Jamaat-e-Islami chief Shafiqur Rahman said the party wants to continue working with the BNP ‘in the national interest’
A month before the highly anticipated general elections in
Bangladesh,
Jamaat-e-Islami chief Shafiqur Rahman said the party wants to continue working with the
Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) “in the national interest”. According to Bangladeshi news outlet BD News, the Jamaat leader noted that he was seeking talks with former PM late
Khaleda Zia’s party after the elections but before the formation of the next government.
The remarks came while he was speaking at the BNP’s Gulshan office on Thursday evening during a condolence visit following the funeral of chairperson Zia.
During his visit, Shafiqur also met Acting Chairman
Tarique Rahman and other senior party leaders. After the meeting, the Jamaat chief shared his take on the election and referendum, urging a smooth, fair, and credible electoral process.
Jamaat attempts to appease BNP by toying with the past
During the Thursday meeting, Rahman recalled Jamaat’s long-term alliance with BNP. “We have worked together in the past in the interest of our beloved country, and, God willing, we will continue to work together in the future for the country’s sake,” he said.
Later, while speaking to the reporters, Shafiqur said leaders of both parties expressed the same aspirations. “For the sake of national stability over the next five years and to restore a healthy political environment, we should consider whether we can collectively think through constructive options,” he said.
He also noted that the Islamist party is planning to hold a meeting with the BNP before the parties form a government in Bangladesh after two years of turbulence. He said that the talks are needed to “make decisions for the country”.
While speaking to the media, Rahman also formally offered condolences over Zia’s demise, BD News reported. The Jamaat supremo recounted Khaleda’s struggle to restore democracy in Bangladesh.
“Her send-off (Wednesday) was marked by historic honour. People bade her a tearful farewell. This was her due recognition. Her contributions to the nation have been acknowledged by Allah, and seeing this, we too are inspired,” he said.
“If we can contribute to the country in the same way, perhaps one day the people will honour us with a similar farewell. Such respect is rare, and being bid goodbye with tears is a profound mark of recognition,” the Jamaat chief concluded.
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