EU Election Observers Meet Jamaat Leaders in Chattogram

European Union (EU) election observer representatives held a courtesy meeting with leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami’s Chattogram Metropolitan unit on Wednesday. The meeting took place at the party’s city office.

The EU delegation included Political Analyst Marcel Nagy and Legal Analyst Erini Gounaris, along with other officials. The observers arrived in Bangladesh earlier this December to monitor the national parliamentary election and related political activities.

Representing Jamaat-e-Islami at the meeting were Chattogram Metropolitan Ameer Muhammad Nazrul Islam; Assistant Secretaries Muhammad Ullah and Morshedul Islam Chowdhury; Organizational Secretary and Chattogram-10 candidate Principal Shamsuzzaman Helali; Chattogram-9 candidate Dr. AKM Fazlul Haque; and Chattogram-11 candidate Shafiul Alam. Also present were leaders of the Chattogram Metropolitan Women’s Jamaat, including Secretary Farida Khanam, Assistant Secretary Ayesha Parvin, Organizational Secretary Shirin Jahan, and Umme Fatema.

During the discussion, EU representatives sought information about the overall electoral environment, political parties’ grassroots campaign activities, and the situation on the ground. Muhammad Nazrul Islam said Jamaat is conducting its campaign in compliance with the Election Commission’s code of conduct and national laws. He also expressed concern over reported incidents of attacks, humiliation, and physical harassment faced by female party workers in different parts of the country.

He further informed the delegation that a women’s mass rally will be held on January 31 at Suhrawardy Udyan in Dhaka to demand women’s safety and protest violence against women nationwide. He also alleged that despite submitting a written complaint to the Election Commission over injuries to eight Jamaat activists in an attack by BNP leaders and activists in Chattogram-10, no effective action has yet been taken.

Jamaat leaders said the party, if elected to power, would work to establish a corruption-free, extortion-free, and good governance–based state. They outlined plans for development in education, the economy, and public welfare, and pledged to address long-standing local issues in Chattogram, including waterlogging.

EU observers also spoke directly with Jamaat’s female leaders, asking about their campaign activities and public response. The women leaders said they are carrying out regular door-to-door outreach and receiving positive feedback from people of various professions. They also pledged to ensure equal rights for all citizens regardless of religion or background.

During the meeting, Jamaat leaders voiced concern over loan defaulters being nominated as election candidates and expressed their expectation that the Election Commission will ensure a free, fair, and neutral parliamentary election on February 12.