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🇧🇩 Bangladesh /Elections & Politics

Jamaat-e-Islami decides to take part in presidential election

From Daily Star · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Official statement New plan
  • Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami will participate in the presidential election on August 20, finalizing its candidate through an 11-party alliance.
  • The party aims to field a candidate with broad public acceptance, regardless of the election outcome.
  • The National Citizen Party (NCP) has not yet decided on participation, while Khelafat Majlis is against fielding a candidate.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has decided to contest the upcoming presidential election on August 20. The party announced its participation following a meeting of its central executive council, led by Jamaat chief and Opposition Leader Shafiqur Rahman. The candidate will be finalized through the Jamaat-led 11-party alliance.

We will participate in the election. The final decision will be taken through the 11-party alliance. The alliance is likely to meet tomorrow (Sunday).

— Saiful Alam Khan MilonA member of Jamaat’s central executive council, explaining the party's decision-making process.

The decision to participate was unanimous, according to a press release. Leaders from the 11-party alliance are scheduled to meet to confirm the candidate. Saiful Alam Khan Milon, a Jamaat executive council member, stated the party seeks a candidate with broad public acceptance, emphasizing that the election result is not the primary concern. "We will contest the election. We will not act on the instructions of the ruling party," Milon asserted, highlighting Jamaat's independent stance.

Whatever is the result, it's not an issue. We will field a very good candidate, whom the nation will accept.

— Saiful Alam Khan MilonStating Jamaat's focus on candidate quality over election outcome.

The Jamaat meeting also addressed the country's political climate, constitutional reform, and upcoming alliance programs. Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar and other executive council members were present. Meanwhile, the National Citizen Party (NCP) has yet to decide on its participation, with a final decision expected after a meeting on Sunday.

We will contest the election. We will not act on the instructions of the ruling party.

— Saiful Alam Khan MilonAsserting Jamaat's independent stance in the election.

In contrast, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis, another partner in the Jamaat-led alliance, has no plans to field a presidential candidate. Secretary General Maulana Jalaluddin Ahmed stated the issue was not discussed at their central committee meeting. He questioned the point of fielding a candidate given that members of parliament are the voters, implying the outcome is largely predetermined.

You know who the voters are in this election. The members of parliament are the voters.

— Maulana Jalaluddin AhmedA leader from Khelafat Majlis questioning the rationale of fielding a candidate.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Daily Star in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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