Jamaat calls for vigilance to protect votes in Thakurgaon-1 by-election

Selim Uddin urges party activists to resist vote rigging and intimidationDesk Report: Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has called on its leaders and activists to remain vigilant and play the role of guardians to protect voters’ rights in the upcoming by-election to the Thakurgaon-1 constituency scheduled for October 29.Muhammad Selim Uddin, a member of the party’s Central Executive Council, Ameer of Jamaat’s Dhaka North city unit and former central president of Islami Chhatra Shibir, made the call at an exchange of views with party leaders at the Thakurgaon district Jamaat office on Tuesday afternoon.“Protecting the people’s votes is our responsibility. We must ensure that no one can steal votes under any circumstances,” he said.Selim Uddin claimed that public interest in Jamaat-e-Islami had increased compared with previous years. Alleging that ruling party activists had been involved in terrorism, extortion, land grabbing and misgovernance following the last parliamentary election, he said ordinary people had become frustrated with the situation.In contrast, he claimed, people were living in relatively better conditions in areas represented by Jamaat lawmakers, where, according to him, terrorism, extortion, land grabbing and plundering were absent.He expressed hope that voters in Thakurgaon would use the upcoming by-election to elect a representative of their choice.Selim Uddin said votes could no longer be secured through fear or inducements. Instead, candidates must win public support through love, sincerity and humanitarian values.Backing Jamaat candidate Delwar Hossain, he said the candidate had remained engaged with ordinary people and understood their concerns. He expressed hope that voters would give Hossain an opportunity to represent them.Urging party activists to carry out their electoral responsibilities despite threats, intimidation and pressure, Selim Uddin warned that political opponents might attempt to undermine their morale and intimidate ordinary voters.“Whatever obstacles they create, we will not deviate even slightly from our goal,” he said.The meeting was chaired by Professor Belal Uddin Pradhan, Ameer of Jamaat’s Thakurgaon district unit.Among those present were district secretary Mohammad Alamgir, assistant district secretary Principal Kafil Uddin Ahmed, Baitulmal secretary Professor Firoz Biswas, training secretary Maulana Solaiman Hossain, publicity secretary Principal Shahjalal Jewel, Sadar upazila Ameer Maulana Mizanur Rahman and Sadar secretary SM Adiul Islam, among others.