‘Any party against graft may join our alliance’

Any political party may forge an electoral alliance with Jamaat-e-Islami if it agrees to three conditions, Jamaat Ameer Shafiqur Rahman said yesterday.

He said such parties have to refrain from corruption and from patronising corrupt individuals, ensure equal justice at all levels of society without interfering with the judicial process. They also have to commit to implementing all reform recommendations.

His comments came amid speculation that the National Citizen Party is increasingly tilting toward a seat-sharing arrangement with Jamaat-e-Islami. Jamaat is already part of an eight-party Islamist bloc that includes Islami Andolan Bangladesh.

While addressing a conference of Islami Chhatra Shibir in the capital, Jamaat's student wing, he said Jamaat aims to build an education system that leaves no one unemployed.

Urging Shibir to act as guardians of the student community, the Jamaat ameer said, "For the last 54 years, pens were snatched from students' hands. Innocent students were misled, and weapons were put in their hands. Educational institutions were turned into mini cantonments."

He said the situation has improved a bit, but urged caution. "Until this shadow is eliminated, Chhatra Shibir must continue its struggle."

Addressing the conference, Jamaat Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar said, "Failing to confront Shibir with logic and ideology, the opposing forces have resorted to lies and propaganda. They have labelled Shibir as anti-independence and 'rogkata', but failed to prove it. In student union elections at four public universities, the people rejected them."

In the opening session, Omar Bin Hadi, elder brother of slain Inqilab Moncho spokesperson Sharif Osman Hadi, also spoke. He said, "Not as Osman Hadi's brother, but as a fellow fighter, I want to say that it is you who must decide how Bangladesh will be built in the days ahead. If anyone retreats from here or collaborates with a neighbouring state or the deep state to help re-establish fascism in this country, you will be held accountable before Allah."

He added, "May this Bangladesh be freed from hegemony in exchange for Osman Hadi's blood, and may justice be established in this country."

Nurul Islam Saddam was elected president of Shibir for the 2026 session through a vote of members. Sibgatullah was appointed as the new secretary general of the student organisation.