Shafiqur says Jamaat never deemed election credible, accepted results for 'stability'

Jamaat chief objects to the government appointing BNP leaders as city administrators

Jamaat-e-Islami chief Shafiqur Rahman has said his party never called the general election fair, stressing that it only accepted the results as a pragmatic decision aimed at preventing political paralysis.

He clarified the Jamaat's stance on polls while exchanging Eid greetings with villagers and party leaders and activists at his village home in Kulaura Upazila of Moulvibazar on Monday afternoon.

Responding to questions from journalists covering the event, Shafiqur said: "We didn’t say there was a fair election in the country. We have something else to say. However, we have accepted the poll results, so the country does not get paralysed."

To the ruling BNP, he said: “If you don’t return to the right path, remember that the July Uprising took place just a year and a half ago. People all over the country are July activists.

“These people will not forgive you. We don’t want you to end up like the ‘fascists’ of the past.”

The Opposition leader objected to the government appointing BNP leaders as administrators in city corporations, demanding local government elections to be held at the earliest.

"Now that the country has gotten an elected government and the democratic process has returned, why are administrators being appointed in different cities now? Elections should be held now."