Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Nayeb-e-Ameer Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher on Sunday said his party has no objection to polls in February but the party is unwilling to participate in an election that is hastily arranged.
Speaking at a dialogue titled "National Unity is Essential for National Security" held at a hotel in Gulshan, Taher said, "We are being misinterpreted. Saying we don't want a hastily arranged election doesn't mean we are against elections altogether."
The event was organised by the Foundation for Strategic and Development Studies (FSDS) and attended by political leaders, academics, civil society members, and professionals.
Taher asserted that a truly elected government can address many national issues, but warned that holding flawed elections would render justice and reform meaningless.
He added, "All political parties need to come to a consensus. Dialogue is necessary to find common ground for holding free and fair elections."
Highlighting differences among political parties, he noted that Jamaat supports a proportional representation (PR) system and elections under a neutral caretaker government.
"Each party has its own agenda. Dismissing those agendas labeling as a conspiracy against elections is itself a conspiracy," he said.
Several prominent figures attended the dialogue, including BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, BNP Standing Committee members Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain and Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, Nagorik Oikya President Mahmudur Rahman Manna, Shushashoner Jonno Nagorik (Shujan) Secretary Badiul Alam Majumder, poet and scholar Farhad Mazhar, journalist Shahidul Alam, Ganosamhati Andolon Chief Coordinator Junaid Saki, and others.
