No election without reforms, Jamaat tells Election Commission

In its first meeting with the Election Commission in over a decade, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has presented demands to conduct polls after “urgent reforms”, and called for the introduction of proportional representation, and the holding of local government elections before general elections.

"No election without reforms," Jamaat Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar told the media after leaving the meeting at the Election Building on Thursday.

However, he clarified that not all reform recommendations should be implemented, but instead that those related to elections were “very urgent”.

He added, “At least all the institutions and agencies involved in the election process should be reformed before the election."

Calling for the election to be held after as much time as is needed to make the election “impartial”, the Jamaat leader said: "The people want the local government to be functional, we also want the local elections to be held before the national elections."

The party, which lost its registration 12 years ago following a court ruling, has demanded the cancellation of the current law overseeing party registrations.

A six-strong delegation led by Porwar and Jamaat’s Assistant Secretary General AHM Hamidur Rahman Azad visited the EC headquarters on Thursday.

Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin presided over the meeting, accompanied by election commissioners Abdur Rahmanel Masud, Begum Tahmida Ahmad, Anwarul Islam Sarkar, and Abul Fazal Md Sanaullah.

This marks Jamaat’s first formal interaction with the EC since its registration was revoked in 2013. Previously, party representatives had only visited the EC Secretariat to submit annual audit reports when Jamaat was still registered.

Earlier, on Sunday, a three-member BNP delegation also met with the EC to discuss preparations for the 13th parliamentary elections.

The BNP and their erstwhile ally Jamaat have now taken up differing positions on the elections.

The BNP, which wants elections to be held as soon as possible, is unwilling to accept any other polls before a general election, and also strongly objects to the proportional representation system.

Jamaat’s Porwar says that their party is preparing to contest all 300 parliamentary seats and the initial candidates have already been finalised.

“There was an exchange of views on making the elections fair, impartial and participatory. There was a discussion on capacity and limitations. We have stated 23 demands,” he said regarding the meeting with the EC.

“There is no election without reforms. If elections are held without reforms, there will be no free and fair elections. Jamaat is prepared to provide that time.”

He added that the party had spoken in favour of proportional representation.

“It is necessary for Bangladesh, it is necessary for the functioning of the parliament. Expatriate voters must also be given the opportunity to vote.”

In response to a question about the BNP’s objections to holding local government elections before the parliamentary polls, the Jamaat leader said: “The people’s desire is for local government elections to be held first.”

The High Court cancelled Jamaat-e-Islami's registration in 2013 on the grounds that they did not meet the legal conditions. The Election Commission removed the scale symbol allocated to them from the list.

Jamaat then went to the Appellate Division, but the party's opportunity to contest elections was dismissed in 2023 by a ruling of the Supreme Court.

After the fall of the Awami League government, Jamaat filed a petition to review the verdict. The Supreme Court ordered the matter to be revived on Oct 20. As a result, there is hope that the party's registration will be restored.

Asked about the registration, Porwar said the party hoped that it would get “justice” from the court.

“The law regulating the registration of political parties is strict and should be repealed. Everyone has the right to engage in politics.”