Dhaka: Jamaat-e-Islami Assistant Secretary General and coordinator of the 11-party alliance, AHM Hamidur Rahman Azad, has raised concerns over a BNP meeting held at the Prime Minister’s Office in the Secretariat, where its candidate for the presidential election was selected. The meeting’s location, according to Azad, is unusual for such political discussions and raises questions about democratic practices.
According to United News of Bangladesh, Azad expressed his views to reporters after submitting the nomination paper of Colonel (retd) Oli Ahmed, the 11-party alliance’s presidential candidate, to Chief Election Commissioner and presidential election officer AMM Nasir Uddin. This submission took place at the Nirbachan Bhaban in Dhaka. Azad also referenced a recent statement by BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, indicating no significant changes in the administration during the past few months of the current government.
Azad emphasized that the 11-party alliance is participating in the presidential election to uphold democratic principles, despite not having a parliamentary majority. He highlighted the importance of competitive elections, referencing the 1991 presidential election as a time when the BNP lacked a parliamentary majority, creating a possibility for a competitive contest. Azad criticized the current situation, claiming the BNP has ensured its majority through its own tactics, thus eliminating the possibility of a competitive election.
Azad described Oli Ahmed as a respected figure with a long history of contributions to the nation, stating that the public views the 11-party alliance’s decision positively. However, he pointed out that Article 70 of the Constitution, which prevents MPs from crossing party lines, is a barrier to democratic practice in the presidential election. Azad suggested that the BNP could have introduced secret-ballot voting by amending Article 70, but asserted that the BNP’s “stubbornness” and “narrow partisan interests” have prevented such reforms.
When asked about expelled Jamaat MP Gazi Nazrul Islam, Azad reiterated that MPs must vote according to Article 70 as long as it remains unchanged. A delegation led by Azad submitted the nomination paper to the Chief Election Commissioner at 11:49 am, with Jamaat Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman MP proposing Oli Ahmed as the presidential candidate. The proposal was seconded by NCP lawmaker Abdullah Al Amin.
The delegation included several notable figures such as Jamaat MPs Nurul Islam Bulbul, Nazibur Rahman, and Mardia Momtaz; NCP chief coordinator Nasiruddin Patwari; NCP MPs Abdullah Al Amin and Mahmuda Mitu; Labour Party Chairman Mostafizur Rahman Iran; and Jagpa Vice-President Rashed Pradhan.