Claiming that the current interim government is “biased,” Jamaat-e-Islami Nayeb-e-Ameer Dr Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher, who is also the 8-party alliance leader, has said that no free and fair election is possible under this government.

“We have developed serious doubts about the possibility of a fair election under this government. And if the election is not fair, the country faces even greater turmoil and a darker future.”

The veteran leader made these remarks while addressing a joint press conference of the eight protesting parties at the Al Falah auditorium in the capital’s Moghbazar on Friday.

He said there is a serious doubt about the possibility of a fair election under this government, and if any problem is created during the election, the country will face even greater turmoil and a darker future.

Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher, criticising a specific political party, said that if the national election and the referendum take place on the same day, the parliamentary vote will inevitably draw more attention, leaving the referendum overshadowed.

If turnout in the referendum gets low owing to diminished public focus, he warned that “opponents of the reforms will argue that low participation means the people did not want the referendum.” They could then use this as an excuse to pull out of the reform process.

“We believe that this government - whether knowingly or unknowingly, intentionally or by falling victim to a conspiracy - has walked into the trap of a particular party. They have made the reform process almost meaningless. Earlier too, we saw this government showing various forms of loyalty and weakness towards that party. It began when they went to London and announced the election date from there,” he added.

He further said since the interim government took office, they have been talking about ensuring a level playing field but the government is not paying attention to this.

Rather, with the help of a few advisers, a particular party is trying to politicise the administration, he alleged.

“Let me state very clearly: three advisers are misleading the chief adviser in various ways, providing him with incorrect information and manipulating him. By doing so, they are covertly attempting to steer the government towards a situation where a free and fair election cannot take place,” he said.

The press conference was attended by Jamaat’s Assistant Secretary General Abdul Halim; Joint Secretary General of Islami Andolan Bangladesh Sheikh Fazle Bari Masud; Senior Naib-e-Ameer of Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis Yusuf Ashraf; Secretary General of Nezam-e-Islam Party Musa Bin Izhar; spokesperson of Jatiya Ganatantrik Party (JAGPA) Rashid Pradhan; and Secretary General of the Bangladesh Development Party Kazi Nizamul Haque, among others.

Jamaat and seven allied political parties have been carrying out a joint movement with five key demands, including issuing a constitutional order to implement the July National Charter, holding the referendum within November, and ensuring a level playing field for all political actors in the election.

The eight parties in this alliance are: Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, Islami Andolan Bangladesh, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis, Khelafat Majlis, Nezam-e-Islam Party, Bangladesh Khelafat Andolan, Bangladesh Development Party, and Jatiya Ganatantrik Party (NDP).