Jamaat-e-Islami is taking organisational measures regarding the "controversial" comments made by its central working committee member and Chattogram leader Shahjahan Chowdhury, the party said in a statement today.
In the statement sent to the media this afternoon, Jamaat's Assistant Secretary General and Chattogram region director Mawlana Muhammad Shahjahan said, "We have heard the remarks. These are entirely his [Shahjahan Chowdhury's] own comments. He can best explain them. Jamaat does not endorse his remarks. We have immediately drawn his attention to the matter. We are also taking our own internal measures regarding this incident."
The statement further said, "We believe the administration will carry out their duties with full professionalism. There is no scope for our intervention here. In the past, those in the administration who failed to act professionally have caused harm to the country."
Jamaat-e-Islami central working committee member and senior leader of Chattogram, Shahjahan Chowdhury, on Saturday evening said that the administration "must be brought under Jamaat's control".
Expressing concern that "sacks of money and weapons may enter Bangladesh from a neighbouring country centring the upcoming election", the Jamaat leader said, "An election can't be won only with the [vote of] people… we must bring all members of the administration in each constituency under our [Jamaat's] influence."
He made these remarks while addressing a conference held at the GEC Convention Hall in Chattogram city, which sparked widespread reactions on social media.