Political tension ‘eased slightly’ after talks with chief advisor: Jamaat

Jamaat-e-Islami believes that the brewing political tension that gripped Bangladesh has “eased somewhat” following their meeting with Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting on Saturday night, Jamaat chief Shafiqur Rahman said the situation had begun to stabilise.

According to him, the resolution of two key issues, reforms and a clear election roadmap, will help resolve the rest.

“If we have two roadmaps—one for reforms and one for elections—other problems can be resolved,” Shafiqur told the media around 9:30pm, after nearly an hour-long meeting with Yunus.

Jamaat leaders reportedly told the chief advisor that holding elections without visible reforms would fall short of public expectations.

Jamaat’s Nayeb-e-Ameer, Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher, also attended the meeting.

Reflecting on the backdrop of the talks, Shafiqur said:

“Over the past few days, an abnormal situation has unfolded across the country. On Thursday, during a meeting of the Advisory Council, the chief advisor reportedly intended to send a message to the nation. Though he ultimately didn’t, word of it quickly spread, sparking uncertainty and fear.”

“At the same time, a political leader staked his claim to public representation while another group occupied a key location. All this appears to have caused the chief advisor some distress and frustration, leading him to express doubt about continuing in his role.”

He added that any election must be held at a convenient time without causing public hardship, and that the people must see visible steps on justice and reform beforehand.

“We said two things must be clarified: when the election will be held, and that certain reforms and legal processes must be made visible before then,”Shafiqur continued.

“If reforms are not completed before the election, public expectations won’t be met. That said, not all reforms are possible now; only five specific areas have been addressed so far. Those need to be resolved satisfactorily.”

Jamaat did not demand anyone’s resignation, he clarified.

He also indicated that elections should be held by February, noting that the month of Ramadan would follow soon after, during which voting conditions would be less favourable. “There’s no need to drag it out further,” he added.

The meeting with Jamaat was part of Chief Advisor Yunus’s broader consultations with political parties amid a rapidly shifting political landscape.

Earlier in the evening, Yunus held a nearly hour-long discussion with BNP leaders. The meeting with Jamaat’s two-member delegation, which began at 8:30pm, concluded by 9:30pm.

Local Government Advisor Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain and National Consensus Commission Vice-Chair Ali Riaz were also present during the talks.

Following the Jamaat meeting, the chief advisor sat with representatives from the National Citizen Party (NCP).

“This is our government,” Shafiqur told reporters after the meeting. “We all have a responsibility to support it. If the country is stable, we all benefit. Those in government now are not representing any party—but we’ve seen some deviations, and that causes public concern.”

Before the meeting, Jamaat leader Taher told reporters: “We’re here to discuss the overall situation in the country with the chief advisor.”

Earlier, at 7:45pm, Chief Advisor Yunus held talks with a four-strong BNP delegation led by senior leader Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain.