Jamaat raises concerns over law and order with EU observers

Leader of
the Opposition and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman expressed
concern over the country’s overall law and order situation to the European
Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) today.
The
opposition leader held a courtesy meeting with a high-level EU EOM delegation
at his office in the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban this afternoon, the party said in a
press release.
According
to the statement, the delegation was led by Chief Observer Ivars Ijabs and
included Deputy Head of Delegation Baiba Zarina, Deputy Chief Observer Inta
Leis, Legal Analyst Irini Maria Gounari and Ryan Islam.
At the
outset of the meeting, Ijabs appreciated the opposition leader’s overall
positive role. During the meeting, the EU EOM handed over its observation report
on Bangladesh’s latest parliamentary elections to Shafiqur Rahman.
The
visiting EU team also sought updates on the progress of implementing the July
Charter. In response, the opposition leader outlined his party’s stance on key
issues, including the national election and the proposal for a referendum.
He said
that although BNP had initially agreed to various reform proposals at the
National Consensus Commission, it later showed reluctance in implementing them.
Such a situation, he warned, could erode public confidence in political
leadership.
During the
discussion, Shafiqur also raised concerns about incidents of violence by ruling
party activists in different parts of the country, unrest at several
universities, and attacks on Jamaat lawmakers.
EU EOM members
emphasised the need to strengthen democracy, ensure political balance and carry
out necessary reforms in Bangladesh. They also shared a set of recommendations
aimed at ensuring free and fair elections in the future.
Barrister
Ahmad Bin Quasem Arman, MP from Dhaka-14, and Ali Ahmad Mabroor, a member of
the opposition leader’s foreign affairs advisory team, were present at the
meeting.
Earlier in
the day, the EU EOM described Bangladesh’s 2026 parliamentary elections as
“credible” and “competently managed”, calling it a pivotal step towards
restoring democratic governance and the rule of law.
Presenting
the mission’s final report at a hotel in Dhaka this morning, Chief Observer
Ivars Ijabs said the polls were genuinely competitive for the first time since
2008, with fundamental freedoms broadly respected.















