Highlights:
- Jamaat pledges support for positive government initiatives
- Shafiqur questions political appointments to district councils
- Party chief urges stronger action against corruption and extortion
- Journalists urged to report impartially and courageously
- Jamaat to decide local election participation based on circumstances
Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman today (24 October) questioned why the opposition should be held responsible for the government's mistakes, saying his party intends to act as a responsible and conscientious opposition in parliament.
He said the opposition would support the government's positive initiatives but would not hesitate to criticise mistakes, irregularities and misconduct.
Shafiqur made the remarks during an exchange of views with journalists working in Moulvibazar district at the district circuit house.
He discussed various issues, including the country's law and order situation, corruption, extortion and alleged politicisation of the administration.
Expressing concern over law and order, the Jamaat chief said insufficient progress had been made in maintaining public safety and tackling drugs. He said the home affairs minister should pay greater attention to the work of his ministry.
Questioning the appointment of political figures to district councils and alleging partisan influence over the Public Service Commission (PSC), Shafiqur asked why administrative officials had not been given temporary responsibility for district councils instead.
Describing corruption and extortion as damaging to political parties, he said those involved in such activities served no party's interests.
"Corrupt individuals and extortionists do not belong to any party; they bring their parties down," he said, accusing the government of failing to take effective action against them.
Shafiqur said serious criminal allegations had been levelled against several MPs and ministers, but appropriate disciplinary action had not been taken.
Referring to the expulsion of a lawmaker from his own party, he said the decision had been taken within 24 hours, adding that the MP no longer had any relationship with the party.
Commenting on the media's role, Shafiqur said news organisations helped bring events from across the country to public attention.
Urging journalists to be more courageous and impartial, he said they needed to have "four eyes" and called on the media to fulfil its responsibilities more firmly in the national interest.
He said Bangladesh belonged to everyone and stressed the importance of mutual understanding in a diverse society with a multiparty political system.
His party wanted people of all political affiliations and religious backgrounds to live together peacefully, he added.
Referring to the peaceful conclusion of the recent Durga Puja celebrations, Shafiqur said everyone would benefit if the people of the country were doing well. Political parties, he said, should work in the national interest.
Shafiqur said more than 7,000 Bangladeshis were being held in prisons in Saudi Arabia.
Acknowledging that their cases would be dealt with under Saudi law, he said the Bangladesh government should be kept informed about the detainees.
On local government elections, he said Jamaat-e-Islami would not contest as part of an electoral alliance, adding that the party had not followed that approach in previous local elections either.
A decision on participation in the next election would be made after assessing the circumstances, he said.