Jamaat demands army deployment for Thakurgaon-1 by-election, files written complaints with CEC and invokes Magura

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has questioned the neutrality of the administration in the upcoming Thakurgaon-1 by-election and demanded the deployment of the army, if necessary, alongside the police.

The party's secretary general, Professor Mia Golam Porwar, made the remarks on Sunday evening (25 October) after a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) A M M Nasir Uddin.

He said Jamaat's candidate in the Thakurgaon-1 by-election, to be held on the 29th, is Delawar Hossain, a former central president of Islami Chhatra Shibir and secretary of Jamaat's Dhaka city unit. The rival candidate is Mirza Faisal Amin, younger brother of Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir; he was previously the MP for the seat and a minister.

Mia Golam Porwar said: 'Yesterday a central Jamaat team went there to observe the election activities. After inspecting on the ground, collecting information and data, and based on information received from local people, today we submitted specific complaints in writing to the Chief Election Commissioner.'

He said each complaint was discussed openly with the Election Commission for about an hour. Jamaat submitted evidence, photographs and pictures of injured persons in support of the complaints, as well as photographs of violations of the electoral code of conduct. But, he said: 'We are very sorry. During the discussion of our nine-point complaints and three demands, we felt how helpless a constitutional institution can be before the political influence and power of the government.'

On the army deployment demand, the Jamaat secretary said: 'We asked for the army to be deployed. The EC said there is only one by-election now. There is sufficient force; we will give three times the force that is needed. We said numbers in the thousands are not the factor here. There is a saying — the man behind the machine; if that man is loyal to a party, numbers will not work.'

He said the by-election will not be neutral unless the complaints are investigated and legal action is taken.

The Jamaat secretary also warned the BNP by invoking the 1994 Magura by-election held during a BNP government. He said: 'One Magura by-election sent one government away — we reminded the Election Commission of this today. If you want to hold the Thakurgaon election again in the Magura election style, then we have reminded you of that consequence.'

The Jamaat secretary further alleged: 'A UNO is directly violating the electoral code of conduct. A candidate is going to his house at night, and there are allegations of work being done in exchange for money. Posts are being made on social media in favour of the sheaf-of-paddy candidate. Although complaints have been filed with the judicial magistrate, no benefit has come from the written complaints. On one side the electoral code of conduct is being violated, and on the other our male and female leaders and activists are being attacked and injured.' Jamaat has complained against Sadar upazila UNO Khairul Islam.

He added: 'We wanted to be reassured by the Election Commission. But we could not be fully reassured by their statements. We are somewhat disappointed. Our appeal to the people of Thakurgaon is: if you see partiality by the administration in the election, inaction by the law-enforcement agencies and the influence of the ruling party, remain alert against it.'