Jamaat-led alliance warns against ‘election engineering’ in Thakurgaon-1 by-polls

The Jamaat-e-Islami-led 11-party alliance on Friday alleged that preparations are underway to manipulate the upcoming October 29 by-election to Thakurgaon-1 constituency in a manner similar to what it called “election engineering” in the February 12 general election.

“We are receiving information that preparations are underway to engineer the October 29 by-election like the February 12 election,” said AHM Hamidur Rahman Azad, coordinator of the alliance’s Liaison Committee.

Hamidur Rahman Azad, also Jamaat assistant secretary general said a strong wave of public support has emerged in favour of the alliance’s candidate Delawar Hossain in Thakurgaon-1 where voters are ready to exercise their voting rights.

He made the remarks while briefing reporters after a meeting of the alliance’s Liaison Committee at the official residence of the Leader of the Opposition on Minto Road in the capital.

Presided over by Hamidur Rahman Azad, the meeting was attended by the leaders of 11-party alliance.

Referring to the 1994 Magura by-election held during the BNP government, Azad described it as a “black chapter” in the history of elections in Bangladesh.

“The movement to oust the government started from there and reached its climax,” Azad said, urging the government to learn from the Magura election.

“We do not want a repeat of Magura. We urge the government to abandon any sinister plan to hold a Magura-style election,” he said.

The Jamaat leader said the 11-party alliance’s October 31 long march from Dhaka to Khulna and Kushtia would be peaceful, disciplined with spontaneous public participation.

He called on the government and law enforcement agencies to ensure public safety and take preventive measures against any attempt and instigation to create disorder during their long march.