Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman on Friday said the party had failed to protect votes cast for it in the national election, acknowledging its weaknesses and urging leaders and activists to learn from their mistakes ahead of the upcoming city corporation elections.

“When people tell us, ‘We voted for you, but you could not protect our votes,’ we have to admit that we had weaknesses,” he said at a rukon (party member) conference organised by Jamaat’s Dhaka North unit at the China Friendship Conference Centre in the capital.

Shafiqur said the party is grateful for the public’s love and support, adding that the national election has helped it identify its mistakes and shortcomings.

He stressed the need to remain vigilant to ensure those mistakes are not repeated in future elections.

Speaking about the upcoming city corporation elections, the Jamaat chief said the party’s nominated candidates have been blessed with considerable knowledge by Allah.

He also called on people to unite against wrongdoers, saying no thief would be spared.

“We will not stop; we cannot afford to stop. We must give our utmost and work day and night in the upcoming city corporation elections,” he said.

Shafiqur said the party has reviewed the mistakes made during the national election and expressed hope that it would apply the lessons learned to avoid repeating them.

The conference was held in two sessions. The electoral session took place from 9:45am to 11am, during which party members voted to elect the Ameer of Jamaat’s Dhaka North unit for the 2027–2028 term.

More than 13,000 party members cast their votes in the election, which was overseen by Jamaat central executive council member Mobarak Hossain, assisted by fellow council member and MP Nurul Islam Bulbul and central working committee member A Sabur Fakir.

The organisational session began at 11am.

At the event, Shafiqur also inaugurated an app called Nagorik Sheba (Citizen Services), developed by Jamaat’s Dhaka North unit. According to the organisers, the app offers more than 50 services for citizens.