In a striking assertion amid Bangladesh’s fiercely contested elections, Jamaat-e-Islami leader Shafiqur Rahman envisioned a government born from the will of 180 million people. Voting early Thursday at Dhaka’s Monipur High School center, he called for flawless polls that everyone would embrace.
The Daily Star reported Rahman saying, ‘We accept fair results, and others must too. Our hope is for a peaceful, unbiased vote leading to a government of the entire nation—not one individual, family, or party.’
This comes against a backdrop of serious allegations against his party. Critics claim Jamaat is luring voters with religious promises and cold cash. Leaflets circulated across the country dangle 15,000 Taka rewards for photographing votes on the party’s scale symbol, delivered post-election via bKash or cash.
The provocative flyers invoke afterlife salvation: fulfilling family vote pledges for ‘Dari Palla’ guarantees a ‘sin-free’ next life and escape from dire penalties. Instructions detail bringing camera phones to polling stations for evidence snaps after stamping ballots, with hints of upfront digital payments.
Jamaat denies wrongdoing, but the scandal amplifies concerns over electoral integrity. As ballot boxes fill, Bangladesh stands at a crossroads. Rahman’s dream of a truly representative regime clashes with fears of manipulated democracy. Outcomes could redefine power dynamics in this South Asian nation long dominated by Awami League.