Dhaka: A high-level delegation from the European Union’s Election Observation Mission conducted a meeting with Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman at the party office located in Bashundhara, Dhaka. The meeting, held earlier today, included key representatives from both sides who discussed the upcoming national polls in Bangladesh.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the EU delegation comprised Mette Bakken, Team Leader and Electoral and Political Expert; Manuel Wally, Legal Expert; and Baeiba Zarina, Deputy Head of Delegation of the EU Delegation to Bangladesh. Representing Jamaat, the meeting was attended by the party’s Secretary General and former MP Prof. Mia Golam Parwar, Central Executive Council Member Mobarak Hossain, Dhaka North Medical Thana Ameer Dr. S.M. Khaliduzzaman, and the Ameer’s Foreign Affairs Advisor Prof. Dr. Mahmudul Hasan.
Following the meeting, Jamaat Secretary General Prof. Parwar addressed the media, describing the interaction as cordial. He conveyed that the EU delegation’s mission is to engage with political stakeholders in the country in preparation for the national elections. Prof. Parwar revealed that the EU plans to deploy observers across all 64 districts during the election period, with one representative assigned to each district. A comprehensive report on the election will be published after the observation concludes.
Prof. Parwar further elaborated that Jamaat Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman sought EU cooperation in observing the elections and requested technical support from the EU to ensure the elections are conducted in a free, fair, and acceptable manner. In relation to expatriate voting rights, Dr. Shafiqur informed the EU representatives that Jamaat has formally submitted a letter to the Election Commission to initiate the process of facilitating overseas voting, and noted that the government is currently addressing this issue.
When questioned about Jamaat’s future agenda, the Ameer emphasized the party’s focus on promoting ethical education, building a corruption-free society, and establishing social justice. Dr. Shafiqur also criticized the political repression faced by Jamaat over the past 15 years, highlighting instances of arrests and suppression against the party.