Disregard Propaganda, Officials Advise

In an eleventh-hour appeal before Bangladesh’s national election, Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman urged voters to resist “disinformation” and cast their ballots freely for candidates of their choice. The call came through a series of strategic social media posts aimed at different demographic groups during the final day of the election campaign.

“Voting is your right and a sacred responsibility. Cast your vote for the candidate and symbol of your choice. The entire nation expects this,” Rahman stated in a Facebook post yesterday afternoon, emphasizing the importance of participation in what he described as a potentially “free, fair, and credible election.”

The Jamaat leader’s social media campaign intensified following the detention of Thakurgaon district Jamaat Ameer Belal Uddin Pradhan at Syedpur Airport in Nilphamari, reportedly with a significant amount of cash. This incident prompted Rahman to suggest that opponents, “frightened by Jamaat’s popularity and public support,” were attempting to mislead voters through propaganda.

In a targeted message to female voters, Rahman promised significant reforms if his party came to power. “A society that fails to uphold the dignity of women can never prosper,” he wrote, pledging that under Jamaat leadership, women would “not just remain within households but will proudly lead in the mainstream of society.” This rhetoric represents a notable shift for the Islamist party, which has historically faced criticism for conservative views on women’s roles.

Rahman’s campaign particularly focused on engaging Bangladesh’s youth, whom he characterized as “heroes of the July revolution.” Referring to recent political movements, he told young voters, “Through your courage and sacrifice, an atmosphere for a festive election has been created after a long time.” The Jamaat leader encouraged them to document their voting experience, suggesting they “capture the memorable moments of the day in photos and videos and spread them online to let the world know about this ‘voting festival’.”

The party’s social media strategy included sharing video clips from Rahman’s numerous campaign rallies held across the country during the nearly three-week campaign period. Political analysts note that Jamaat-e-Islami has shown unprecedented organizational capacity during this election cycle, with Rahman personally addressing at least 62 rallies nationwide, traveling both by road and helicopter.

Rahman also used the platform to address alleged campaign violence, claiming that at least 13 of his party’s election offices in his constituency, Dhaka-15, had been vandalized. “Those who still try to stop us through terrorism and intimidation are forgetting that this nation has moved past July,” he stated, adding that “the politics of muscle power has ended.”

Throughout his campaign, Rahman has worked to position Jamaat-e-Islami against the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), which he characterized as his party’s primary political rival. This framing represents a significant realignment in Bangladesh’s political landscape, where Jamaat has previously operated as a junior coalition partner rather than positioning itself as a major contender.

The Jamaat leader’s international outreach was evident as he met with election observation missions from China and Japan at the party’s central office in Moghbazar yesterday, underscoring efforts to gain international legitimacy.

Rahman planned to cast his own ballot at 8:00am today at Monipur High School polling center in Mirpur, Dhaka.

This election marks a critical juncture for Jamaat-e-Islami, which lost its registration as a political party in 2013 following a Supreme Court ruling but has fielded candidates as independents in this election cycle. Political observers suggest the party is attempting to rehabilitate its image and carve out a new position in Bangladesh’s evolving political landscape.