Amid heightened political uncertainty, Jamaat-e-Islami has called on the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) to join an open dialogue on the country’s current situation, saying it does not want confrontation but cooperation to achieve what it termed a “truly independent and sovereign Bangladesh.”
Addressing a press conference at the Al Falah Auditorium in Dhaka on Sunday, November 2, Jamaat’s Naib-e-Amir Dr Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher urged the BNP to sit for talks instead of engaging in political rivalry.
“Jamaat-e-Islami does not want to get involved in any quarrel with the BNP. Stop whatever you are doing now. Let us sit together and discuss the state of the country,” Dr Taher said. “We are calling on BNP to join us for open discussions on how to build a genuinely independent and sovereign Bangladesh.”
The remarks come as both parties, once partners in past political alliances, navigate internal and strategic challenges ahead of the next general election.
‘We don’t want to play political games’
Dr Taher noted that politics in Bangladesh had become filled with “many games,” but said Jamaat would not engage in such tactics. “There are many games in politics. We do not want to play. We want to talk openly about the future,” he said.
He added that Jamaat’s central council will meet on Monday to determine the party’s next course of action and possible outreach efforts.
Invitation through media
Responding to a question about whether the BNP had been formally invited for talks, the Jamaat leader said, “We are now extending this invitation through the media. Let’s see how they respond tomorrow.”
Political observers see the move as a potential attempt by Jamaat to re-establish political relevance and reposition itself within the broader opposition landscape after years of organisational restrictions and limited electoral participation.