Even as the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and its once ally, Jamaat-e-Islami, are locked in a fierce contest in the Bangladesh general elections, Bangladeshi writer and activist Taslima Nasreen claimed that if Jamaat-e-Islami were to come to power, democracy would effectively cease to exist and theocracy would take over.
In a statement to news agency ANI, the writer said minorities will face persecution and be forced to leave the country, and women will be pushed into the darkness of burqas and niqabs, and the country would risk turning into another Afghanistan if Jamaat-e-Islami gets elected.
“However, I hope that just as Jamaat-e-Islami has never won an election in the past, it will not win this time either. Although Jamaat-e-Islami has benefited from the Awami League’s boycott of the election, I hope that, in the end, these collaborators of the Pakistani army during the 1971 Liberation War—India-hostile and Pakistan-aligned extremist forces—will not succeed in winning the election,” the statement read.
She further said BNP will face serious challenges if elected, but it must protect democracy, secularism, freedom of speech, women’s equality, human rights at all costs and ensure education and healthcare for all.
“The government must work toward economic development and reduce the vast gap between the rich and the poor. The security of minorities must be ensured. If a BNP government can deliver on these issues effectively, it will gain public trust and popularity,” she wrote.
Although disturbances were reported at some polling centres and clashes occurred between supporters of two parties, I have heard that voting was largely peaceful, she added.
She pointed out that there have been reports of Jamaat-e-Islami activists casting votes at some polling stations since Wednesday evening.
“One Jamaat leader was caught with 7.4 million Taka in cash. Jamaat activists are accused of buying votes by distributing money and of campaigning by claiming that voting for the scale symbol would guarantee a ticket to heaven, even saying that Allah has instructed people to vote for Jamaat-e-Islami.”
There have been allegations of pre-poll vote stuffing, voter bribing, distribution of photocopied ballot papers and clashes among rival candidates, prompting joint forces of army and police to arrest several activists.
Bangladesh may turn into another Afghanistan if Jamaat-e-Islami comes to power, warns Taslima Nasreen
