Dhaka: On the eve of polls, nationalism was on full display in the last big push by two of Bangladesh’s key political parties—the Jamaat-e-Islami and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)—on the streets of Dhaka.
Both held press conferences where topics like India, Bangladesh’s foreign policy post polls, women’s rights, and even the sticky issue of minorities, were touched upon. One was smoothly organised, the other was chaos.
Standing before reporters after formal campaigning closed, Jamaat-e-Islami’s emir Dr Shafiqur Rahman called Thursday’s election a democratic reckoning decades in the making.
“People’s demand is a change in the political system,” he said. “We are also in favour of that. But it is people who will ultimately decide the matter. We are very confident in our people’s choice. And we are respectful to them also. And this is the essence of democracy.”
But it was his comment on minorities amid concerns about minority rights and rising political polarisation that caught the most attention.
Asked about minorities, he said: “Bangladesh does not have minorities, everybody is a Bangladeshi…The country belongs equally to all who live in it—not as minorities and majorities, but as citizens.”
This comes a day after a 62-year-old Hindu trader was hacked to death by unidentified men inside his shop in Trishal upazila of Mymensingh, the latest in a series of similar attacks.
At the same time, Dr Rahman acknowledged the fragility of Bangladesh’s democratic journey. “Like other democratic countries in the world, we are a country where in the last 54 years, our democracy did not take its own shape. Rather, it has lost its path now and again. So, the election will be a tool to decide the future.”
Asked about his party’s chances of winning, he added: “Allah will see to that.”
‘Will not incline towards any one country’
Beyond domestic politics, Jamaat’s leadership signalled a careful recalibration of Bangladesh’s place in a shifting regional order.
“Our policy is not to incline to any certain country, but to maintain one relation with all friends, who are real partners in our development area,” said Dr Rahman.
It was a pointed formulation in a country whose foreign policy has often been viewed through the prism of India’s influence and China’s growing footprint, alongside growing relations with Pakistan post the Hasina era. And significant because the Jamaat itself has been viewed as inclined towards Pakistan.
Yet, it was the Jamaat manifesto that mentioned India and not Pakistan in its foreign policy. Meanwhile, Tarique Rahman’s BNP simply spoke about international relations and cooperation with nations as equals.
“With our neighbours, it is our mandatory obligation or duty to maintain a harmonious relation,” Shafiqur said. “With mutual respect, trust, dignity and equity.”
However, while interacting with the media, he said India is “our biggest neighbour and top priority”.
Corruption as an election point
Dr Rahman also repeatedly returned to the issue of corruption and capital flight, themes that have animated opposition rhetoric across the political spectrum.
“In the last 54-55 years, we have achieved a few things in our national economy, but…huge money has been looted and laundered outside the country.”
He added: “We feel this is public money and the government has the responsibility to get back this money, wherever it may be.”
The BNP seemed more focused on one final attack on its rival, 24 hours ahead of the polls. At a separate press conference held here in Dhaka, the party shot back.
“In opposition to BNP’s inevitable victory, a certain group is attempting to create various obstacles. This morning, we observed in the media that the Ameer of the Thakurgaon district Jamaat-e-Islami was arrested…with over half a crore taka in cash,” BNP spokesperson Mahdi Amin said, raising questions about the source and purpose of the money. “It does not require expert analysis to understand that such a large sum cannot be for legitimate business purposes.”
He declared, “The Saidpur airport incident cannot be viewed as an isolated event.”
According to the BNP, similar irregularities have surfaced elsewhere. “Those who speak of justice and anti-corruption must answer how vote-buying with money aligns with their anti-corruption rhetoric,” Amin said.
The BNP also accused unnamed political actors of stockpiling weapons and intimidating voters. “Media reports indicate that to spread fear among voters in many parts of the country, terrorists from a particular political party are stockpiling domestic weapons,” Amin said.
He cited a violent attack in Bogura in which a local BNP leader was severely injured. “BNP’s Union President Masud Rana was severely injured in an attack by known Jamaat terrorists, losing his eyesight. Upon hearing the news, his mother suffered a stroke and passed away. We strongly condemn this incident and demand swift justice.”
Jamaat, for its part, had earlier acknowledged “sporadic problems in different parts of the country”, with Dr Rahman saying, “We are trying to draw attention of the appropriate authority.”
“Still, we are hopeful for a credible election,” he added. “On our part, we are committed to keeping patience and… full cooperation to hold a good election.”
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The women question
The question of women’s rights also became a point of friction.
The BNP accused “a certain political party” of “limiting working hours, denying nominations, and repeatedly addressing women in disrespectful and obscene terms”.
“This election presents a wonderful opportunity to protest against this injustice,” Amin said, adding that BNP chairman Tarique Rahman was “committed to the pledge of establishing these rights for women in society”.
Jamaat’s emir, meanwhile, insisted: “We are very respectful to women’s rights and their equal access to every sphere of the country.”
(Edited by Gitanjali Das)
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