A meeting of the central executive committee of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami was held on last 12 February. Jamaat Ameer Maqbul Ahmad presided over the meeting. The meeting decided not to take part in any election under the incumbent government.

The central executive committee overwhelmingly viewed that no election which had been taken place under the current regime was free, fair and credible. Under such circumstance, Jamaat-e-Islami will not participate in any election under the current authoritarian regime.
Awami League government came into the power following an election on 29 December of 2008 by making a secret negotiation with the then military backed caretaker government. Since then, they have made all efforts to stay in office permanently which destroyed the over all electoral system of Bangladesh.

The countrymen have been witnessing for last 10 years that, another farcical election was held on 5 January of 2014. Jamaat and other opposition parties did not participate in that election as there was of negative assumption of controversial and unwanted consequences.

The people also boycotted that election. There was no candidate except the ruling party backed ones in 153 constituencies. Turn out of that poll was less than 5 percent. Such a farce in the name of election is unprecedented. In the wake of severe post-poll criticism from all corners, Awami League president Sheikh Hasina then announced that, the election was nothing, but a formality and another election would be held shortly. But then she moved back from her declaration and undertook other ill-strategies including nepotism to stay firm in power.

Consequently, the opposition participated in all the local government elections under this government though those were not credible and fair as well. The opposition backed candidates who won those elections, were subsequently harassed, imprisoned and suspended again and again. Many of them became the victim of enforced disappearance as well. Even though, having faith on the pledge and assurances of the current authoritarian regime and its subservient election commission, the opposition parties took part in last election of 30 December and widely deceived by the government and its pet election commission once again.

Instead of creating congenial atmosphere for election, the present government increased its repression and tortures. They filed thousands of false cases on invisible charges and detained hundreds of thousands of opposition leaders and activists. They arrested 16 opposition candidates, wounded and abducted many others. Even the authority arrested the opposition candidate’s polling agents as well. Amid such backdrop, the government had used law enforcers and the staffs and officers of the election commission to stuff ballot boxes on 29 December night, hours before the vote casting began. They also barred the opposition supporters and general voters to cast votes or even to go to the poll centers. The authority staged these dramas just to stay in office. The 10-year horrendous experiences proved that, fair and credible election is not possible under a political government. Earlier, 3 elections, took place under the caretake government in 1991, 1996 and 2001 were free and fair. All corners from home and abroad appreciated those polls as well. We have been pressing demands for long days to hold elections under caretaker government, which have been proved genuine once again this time.

Under the circumstances, Jamaat-e-Islami decided not to participate in any election under the current authoritarian regime. We will continue our sincere effort and struggle to hold free, fair and credible elections under a non-party caretaker government. We are calling upon the countrymen to raise voice against all types of repressions, oppressions and tortures.