Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman has alleged that Bangladesh’s key constitutional and oversight institutions, including the judiciary, the Anti-Corruption Commission, the Human Rights Commission and the Election Commission, remain without genuine independence, arguing that the absence of meaningful reforms has allowed longstanding governance problems to continue.
Speaking at the party’s Central Majlis-e-Shura meeting at the Al-Falah Auditorium in Moghbazar, Dhaka, on Friday, he remarked on these discourses.
He argued that these institutions had played a role in enabling authoritarian rule and claimed that little had changed despite expectations of reform following political upheaval.
Referring to the events following the July mass uprising, Dr Shafiqur said, "Many people had expected Bangladesh to move towards stronger democratic governance after the sacrifices made during the movement.”
However, he claimed those expectations had not been fulfilled.
The Jamaat leader also criticised the government’s handling of the referendum held alongside the general election on 12 February.
According to him, while voters cast ballots in both processes, the outcome of the referendum had not been respected.
He alleged that the government had ignored the views expressed by nearly 70 per cent of voters in the referendum and said opposition parties had repeatedly called for its implementation.
He added that notices had also been submitted in Parliament seeking discussion on the issue.
He said, "The opposition, through an 11-party alliance, had continued a series of programmes demanding implementation of the referendum results, describing the issue as one of public interest rather than a partisan campaign.”
During his address, he also expressed concern over corruption and abuse of public trust, saying that some educated members of society had used their positions to gain wealth and influence through unlawful means.
He argued that education should promote integrity rather than exploitation.
Ameer also said, "The quality of governance played a decisive role in shaping society and maintaining public order.”
He maintained that Bangladesh had achieved independence with high expectations on two historic occasions but said successive governments had failed to establish the just and orderly society many citizens had hoped for.
He also pointed to what he described as continuing public concerns over employment opportunities for young people, public safety and the protection of women’s dignity.
Senior leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami were present during the party’s Central Majlis-e-Shura session.
