With the national election only four months away, Jamaat-e-Islami has alleged that the administration, police, and Election Commission are working in favour of a major political party, while the National Citizen Party called for a reconstitution of the Election Commission. The parties voiced their concerns and demands at separate meetings with Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus yesterday. Just a day earlier, at a meeting with the chief adviser, the BNP called for the interim government to assume the role of a caretaker government to ensure a neutral election.
Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami yesterday demanded necessary reshuffles in the Election Commission, public administration, and police, questioning their neutrality.
A four-member delegation of the party raised the demands at a meeting with Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus at the state guest house Jamuna.
"We said a few individuals are misleading him (the chief adviser). We said we have confidence in him, but some of his advisers are working in favour of a particular party. We said he needs to be alert and aware of them," Jamaat's Nayeb-e-Ameer Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher told reporters after the meeting.
He said Jamaat is not demanding their removal but simply drew the chief adviser's attention to the matter.
"In the Election Commission, the Secretariat, and the police administration, around 70 to 80 percent of the officers today are loyal to a political party."
"When we talk to them, they say they are under tremendous pressure. Now, where is that pressure coming from? It's coming from a particular party."
He alleged that a significant number of public prosecutors belong to that party.
The Jamaat leaders urged the chief adviser to ensure a level playing field for all as he heads a neutral, caretaker-style government.
"Necessary reshuffles should be made wherever needed before the election," Taher said.
In response to their demand, the chief adviser told Jamaat leaders that he would personally supervise the matter and make transfers through a lottery system.
"We said we had no objection to that. You can hold a lottery, but make sure no unseen 'influence' is there," Taher said.
The Election Commission has not yet announced an official date for the national polls. However, it is preparing to hold the election in the first half of February, in line with the chief adviser's announcement following his meeting with BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman in London in June, and his televised address on August 5 marking the first anniversary of the July uprising.
Jamaat leaders during yesterday's meeting also discussed the July charter implementation process with Yunus.
They said the July National Charter must be granted constitutional legitimacy through a constitutional order. "We have consistently said that if it is legally sound, then the chief adviser should issue the order, not the president. Everyone knows whose product this president is," Taher said.
He said that the charter is not constitution. "It is an extra-constitutional arrangement, which any government has the authority to issue when faced with such a situation. And the chief adviser agreed that this should be done through an order."
"The order will serve as the basis for a referendum. We've made this position very clear. We believe the chief adviser has been convinced by our argument" Taher said.
The Jamaat leader also thanked BNP for agreeing on the referendum issue.
"However, they are now trying to complicate the matter by insisting that the referendum and the national election must be held the same day. These are two entirely separate processes," Taher said.
"Since BNP did not originally support the referendum, they agreed only under public pressure. But now they've added a twist. In the meeting, we made it clear that we don't accept any such twist. The referendum must be held first, in a simple and straightforward manner."
He said they did not discuss the caretaker government issue for two reasons. First, the issue is still under hearing in the Supreme Court. Once the SC delivers its ruling, they will bring the caretaker issue into the discussion accordingly.
"We believe the current government is interim and should remain so. If the Supreme Court's order does not contradict this, then this government will continue to play the role of a caretaker government," Taher said.
In a press statement, the Chief Adviser's Press Wing quoted Taher as saying in the meeting, "The referendum must be held before the national election because the July charter contains many issues linked to the national polls."
Taher also said, "If the referendum and the national election are held the same day, there is a risk that the voting process will be prolonged."