Shafiqur accuses interim govt over election conspiracy

Opposition Leader and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman on Wednesday alleged that the 13th parliamentary election was manipulated through a conspiracy aimed at defeating 11 political parties, claiming the interim government was also involved despite presenting itself as a neutral administration.

Speaking at a seminar titled Spirit of the Mass Uprising, Implementation of the Referendum Verdict and Trial of the July Genocide and Crimes Against Humanity in Kakrail, Dhaka, he said his party had supported holding an election but opposed what he described as an organised conspiracy.

“We wanted an election. But we did not want a conspiracy in the name of an election,” he said.

Shafiqur Rahman alleged that the interim government had participated in the process despite its commitment to neutrality. “There was a conspiracy. We condemn it. The interim government, whose identity was that of a neutral and non-partisan administration, was also part of this conspiracy. They themselves have admitted that 11 parties were defeated through a conspiracy,” he claimed.

Referring to the election process, he said there had been “many dramas” before polling day and claimed that two elections were held simultaneously under the same legal framework. He said the opposition parties accepted the election results and took the oath of office, while the ruling party was sworn in immediately and another group delayed taking the oath before later explaining its position.

According to him, those parties accepted the process only to overcome the “electoral hurdle” rather than because they genuinely endorsed it. He warned that if political parties and institutions continued to mislead the public, people would lose confidence in politicians and believe that election promises carried little value once leaders assumed office.

Shafiqur Rahman said he was “astonished” that what he described as an admission of deception had been made in parliament, noting that parliamentary proceedings become part of the country's historical record.

He also criticised remarks made in parliament describing the July Charter as “an endless document of deception”. He argued that those making such statements had themselves deceived the nation. Responding to comments questioning whether voters understood the four referendum questions, he said that if people were capable of understanding 31 questions, they were equally capable of understanding four. He said such remarks effectively portrayed citizens as “foolish” and were inconsistent with democratic principles.

“If you believe in democracy, you cannot question the people’s wisdom,” he said.

Explaining why the opposition accepted the election results despite alleging irregularities, Shafiqur Rahman said one of the speakers at the seminar had stressed the importance of reconciliation, patience and preventing civil conflict. He argued that if the 11-party alliance had rejected the outcome after what he described as 17 and a half years of political struggle, the country could have descended into instability.

“The 11 parties acted responsibly. But at the same time, they also made it clear that although they accepted the election results, they would never allow the verdict of the referendum to be ignored,” he said.

The Jamaat chief also said he had received formal proposals on 10 or 11 occasions to establish a constitutional reform commission but rejected the idea. He argued that no separate commission was needed because both the government and the opposition have the constitutional authority to introduce amendment bills in parliament, which should then proceed through committee scrutiny, parliamentary debate and voting.

“The referendum was not held to create another amendment commission. It was held to transform the rotten political order of the country and uproot fascism,” he said.

Shafiqur Rahman further accused the BNP of retreating from its earlier commitments to political reform.

“We want those reforms. If BNP has moved away from its promises, do you expect us to betray the nation as well? We cannot betray the nation,” he said.