Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has expressed the need to install CCTV cameras at every polling centre to ensure a free and fair upcoming election, for which a significant amount of funding is required. The party has sought the cooperation of the European Union (EU) in this regard.

EU Ambassador Michael Miller paid a courtesy call on Jamaat’s Ameer, Dr Shafiqur Rahman, at the party’s central office in Moghbazar, Dhaka, on Sunday (April 27). Following the meeting, Jamaat`s Nayeb-e-Ameer, Dr Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher, briefed journalists.

When asked whether the EU inquired about Jamaat’s stance on the upcoming election, Taher said that Jamaat would place its trust in the timeline provided by the Chief Adviser for the next election.

During the press conference, Taher mentioned that they had requested the EU to send an election observation team to monitor the upcoming elections in Bangladesh.

He added that discussions with the EU have been ongoing for a long time. "We informed them that a significant volume of garments from Bangladesh is exported to Europe. We will allocate a specific zone for the garment industry, where they could invest even more," he said.

Regarding women’s rights and combating extremism, Taher stated that Jamaat is frequently questioned on these matters. "We have assured them of our stance. We mentioned that the recognition of sex workers as labourers by the Women’s Reform Commission is extremely degrading for women. Additionally, women’s participation in Jamaat stands at 43 percent, which is higher than in other parties," he said.