‘Peace committee claim absurd’: Jamaat-e-Islami dismisses BNP allegation

BNP is rattled by its mass support and is floating baseless claims in fear, senior leader Ahsanul Mahboob Zubair says

Jamaat-e-Islami Assistant Secretary General Ahsanul Mahboob Zubair has dismissed as “absurd” an allegation by the BNP that it plans to form “peace committees” to maintain order during the election period.

He said no “sane person or party” could raise such an allegation.

The remarks came after a BNP delegation met Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin at the Nirbachan Bhaban on Sunday.

During the meeting, the BNP placed a set of observations and demands before the commission, including an allegation that Jamaat-e-Islami was planning to form “peace committees”.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, BNP electioneering chief Nazrul Islam Khan said they had informed the CEC about discussions suggesting that some parties were planning to form peace committees in different constituencies in the name of “maintaining law and order”.

“Even the term ‘peace committee’ is unpleasant to us, although we are peace-loving people,” he said.

“The EC said they are not aware of this; they have not taken any decision to form such committees.”

Later in the afternoon, a Jamaat delegation -- including women representatives -- met the CEC. After that meeting, Ahsanul was asked about the peace committee allegation.

In response, he said: “These absurd allegations cannot come from a sound mind. I would say no sane person, no sane party, can make such claims.”

He added, “One party has become restless. Seeing the massive public support in our favour -- from both men and women -- they are frightened and are making such statements.

“This does not appear to be a sign of sanity to me. We pray for their recovery.”

He also said the killings of [Sharif Osman bin Hadi] in Dhaka and [Rezaul Karim] in Sherpur were “serious obstacles” to a level playing field and a peaceful election.

Referring to the BNP’s repeated complaints, Zubair said: “One party is always on the side of ‘No’ -- no to everything. The people will judge that. They were ‘No’ even in the referendum; now perhaps they have come around to ‘Yes’.”