Jamaat Forms Shadow Cabinet; Criticizes BNP for Ignoring Referendum Mandate

The Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has formed a shadow cabinet and will unveil its structure at an appropriate time, announced Dr. Shafiqur Rahman, the Leader of the Opposition and Ameer of Jamaat.

He disclosed this on Wednesday during a press briefing held at the LD Hall of the National Parliament to share the party’s formal reaction to the national budget. During the session, the Jamaat chief raised concerns over parliamentary discrimination, budget implementation challenges, and strongly criticized the ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) for undermining the public mandate.

Dr. Rahman stated that while the shadow cabinet may lack domestic constitutional recognition, it holds established democratic value worldwide. Emphasizing that parliament should function as a responsible institution focused on citizens' issues rather than entertainment, he asserted that Jamaat is actively performing its duties to maintain parliamentary stability both within the house and on the streets.

Addressing national reforms, the Opposition Leader expressed disappointment over the government's stance on the recent referendum, noting that nearly 70 percent of voters chose "yes," yet the ruling BNP has ignored and insulted this public mandate, creating a national crisis. Criticizing BNP's refusal to join the reform council on constitutional grounds, Dr. Rahman reminded them that the interim government of Dr. Yunus was also outside the traditional constitutional framework, under whose elections the BNP rose to power. He further alleged that despite the July uprising being fought against inequality, the opposition is facing severe discrimination regarding time allocation in parliament, adding that the public voted for structural reform, not mere amendments.

Commenting on the national budget, the Jamaat chief observed that the finalized budget closely reflects the shadow budget previously proposed by his party. While he appreciated the government for accepting opposition demands to scrap the whitening of undisclosed money, he regretted that their proposal to align the fiscal year from January to December was ignored. He warned that presenting the largest budget in history is meaningless without checking corruption and ensuring execution capacity, failing which will trigger further money laundering abroad.

Responding to queries regarding Jamaat lawmakers accepting government accommodation, Dr. Rahman clarified that while their MPs strictly declined tax-free vehicles and land plots, they accepted government flats as these are temporary residential arrangements for their parliamentary tenure. Highlighting Jamaat's historical role, he noted that the party had assisted the BNP in forming the government back in 1991 solely in the national interest. He concluded by expressing concern over the current lack of visible progress regarding the July Memorial Museum and the July Foundation, urging swift state action.