Politics
Jamaat Chief Outlines Three Priorities if Party Comes to Power
Jamaat-e-Islami has pledged to prioritize education reform, building a corruption-free society, and ensuring social justice if it comes to power. The party’s Amir, Dr. Shafiqur Rahman, made the statement on Sunday (September 28) during a meeting with a high-level delegation from the European Union’s Election Observation Mission at his office.
Following the meeting, Jamaat’s Secretary General, Professor Mia Golam Porwar, said the EU delegation held a cordial exchange with the Amir and clarified that their visit aimed at consulting political parties and stakeholders ahead of the upcoming national election. The EU team plans to monitor the polls across all 64 districts, with one observer in each, and will release a detailed report after the election.
Dr. Rahman urged that beyond monitoring, the EU’s technical support is crucial to ensure a free, fair, and credible election. He also highlighted Jamaat’s longstanding demand for expatriate voting rights, noting that the party was the first to raise the issue involving over one crore overseas voters.
Outlining Jamaat’s core agenda if it assumes power, the Amir stressed three priorities: establishing a morally grounded and skills-oriented education system, eradicating corruption, and promoting social justice.
He further alleged that over the past 15 years, democracy has been suppressed, opposition parties have faced persecution, and Jamaat’s offices were shut down while leaders and activists were detained. Although Jamaat is ready to contest the upcoming election, he emphasized that it must be held under a legal framework based on the July National Charter to be considered acceptable.
The EU delegation included election experts Mete Bakken and Manuel Wali, along with Biba Zarina, Deputy Head of the EU Delegation to Bangladesh. Jamaat leaders present at the meeting included Professor Mia Golam Porwar, Mubarak Hossain, Dr. S M Khaliduzzaman, and Professor Dr. Mahmudul Hasan.
Sharif Osman Hadi, an independent candidate for Dhaka-8 and spokesperson of Inqilab Manch, has undergone a primary surgery at Dhaka Medical College Hospital after being shot earlier on Friday. Hospital director Brigadier General Md Asaduzzaman confirmed in the evening that Hadi was being transferred to Evercare Hospital following a decision by his family.
According to the hospital authorities, Hadi suffered a bullet injury to the head and additional injuries to the chest. The injury to his leg is believed to have occurred when he fell from the rickshaw during the attack. Although the family initially considered transferring him to the Combined Military Hospital (CMH), they later opted for Evercare Hospital, which has already been prepared to receive him.
Hadi was shot at around 2:20 pm on Friday while travelling by rickshaw along the Bijoynagar culvert road. Unknown assailants on a motorcycle opened fire at him and fled the scene. A bullet pierced just below his left ear. His colleagues rescued him and took him to Dhaka Medical College Hospital around 2:40 pm.
Law enforcement agencies are investigating the incident, as no information about the attackers or the motive has yet been confirmed.
Tensions flared at Dhaka Medical College Hospital on Friday as supporters of Sharif Osman Hadi reacted angrily to the arrival of BNP candidate Mirza Abbas. Hadi, an independent candidate for Dhaka-8 and spokesperson of Inquilab Manch, is currently undergoing treatment after being shot earlier in the day.
Around 4 pm, Mirza Abbas reached the hospital’s emergency entrance, where Hadi’s supporters began chanting “fake, fake” slogans against him. The situation quickly became heated, prompting army personnel on site to escort Abbas inside under security. Supporters continued chanting outside the emergency unit.
After checking on Hadi’s condition, Abbas left the hospital around 4:30 pm without speaking to the media.
Earlier, around noon, Hadi was shot by assailants who approached on motorcycles while he was traveling by rickshaw in Bijoynagar. Following his admission, additional police and army personnel were deployed around Dhaka Medical College Hospital, including at the emergency gate. An army vehicle entered the hospital premises at 3:50 pm.
Hadi had previously reported receiving threats from around 30 domestic and international phone numbers last November. In a Facebook post on 14 November, he stated he had been threatened with murder, arson at his home, and sexual violence against his mother, sister and wife.
Sharif Osman Hadi, an independent candidate from Dhaka-8 and spokesperson for Inquilab Manch, is now on life support after being shot in Dhaka’s Bijoynagar area on Friday. Brigadier General Md Asaduzzaman, director of Dhaka Medical College Hospital, confirmed his critical condition in a briefing given after 4 pm.
Hospital authorities reported that the bullet penetrated inside Hadi’s head after entering through the area beneath his left ear. Emergency physician Dr Mostak Ahmed said Hadi was in extremely critical condition upon arrival and was given CPR before being shifted to life support.
The attack occurred around 2:20 pm in the Box Culvert area of Bijoynagar when assailants on two motorcycles opened fire at Hadi and fled immediately. Misbah, who brought him to the hospital, said Hadi had just finished Juma prayers and was travelling by rickshaw when the attackers fired at him.
Deputy Police Commissioner Muhammad Talebur Rahman said police were still gathering details, but initial reports suggest Hadi was on a rickshaw when motorcycle-borne gunmen shot him.
Last month, Hadi claimed he had received threats from around 30 domestic and international phone numbers. In a Facebook post on 14 November, he alleged threats of murder, arson at his home, and sexual violence targeting his mother, sister, and wife