The party has no wish to participate in the polls just for the sake of it, says Acting Secretary General Maulana Jalaluddin Ahmed

File Photo: Voting is being held through electronic voting machines (EVMs) exclusively for the first time in Narayanganj city Mehedi Hasan/Dhaka Tribune

Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish is monitoring the overall election situation, Acting Secretary General Maulana Jalaluddin Ahmed has said.

"We are monitoring the overall election situation. How the election will be, what are the opposition parties including BNP planning for the election? We will take a decision after considering all the issues,” he said. 

While monitoring the overall situation, the party is also preparing for the elections. 

In this regard, Maulana Jalaluddin Ahmed said: "Meanwhile, we have already started preparing for the election, as we have sent letters to leaders across the country. We are also collecting information of those who want to participate in the election.”

He noted that the party has no wish to participate in the polls just for the sake of it. “The decision on the election will be made after considering the situation at the field level.”

Maulana Mamunul Haque, secretary general of the party, is in jail in various cases. 

On the other hand, Maulana Jalaluddin Ahmed, the then joint secretary general of Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish, was released on bail on February 3, 2022, after nearly 10 months of imprisonment. 

Later, on February 12, he was appointed as the acting general secretary of the party.

When asked whether party activities have stopped as Maulana Mamunul Haque is in jail, Maulana Jalaluddin Ahmed said: "There is heartache among the leaders and workers, but the activities have not stopped." 

“If you do politics, you have to go through prison and oppression. Maulana Mamunul Haque has gone to jail before. Other leaders in the party, including me, had to be imprisoned at various times as well. As a result, party activities cannot be stopped. We are organizationally active,” he noted.

Regarding the alliance between Islamic parties, Maulana Jalaluddin Ahmed said: "Islami Andolan Bangladesh tried to form an alliance with us a few months ago, and we had a discussion with them. However, there was no direct meeting.”

When asked if the party has received any proposal from the ruling Awami League, Maulana Jalaluddin Ahmed said: "There is no pressure from the government regarding the election, nor any offer."

Later, regarding why Islamic parties are never successful in forming alliances, Maulana Jalaluddin Ahmed said: "If those who take the initiative to form an alliance bring another party's agenda, then forming an alliance is not easy.” 

"The alliance will be easy if someone considers an alliance between Islamic parties to advance Islamic power,” he concluded.