Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman has urged party supporters not to lose heart over the election outcome, saying the party’s 77 seats mark a “foundation” rather than a setback, while also condemning alleged post-poll violence targeting political activists.
He also expressed gratitude to activists, volunteers and supporters for their efforts over the past months and called for patience following the election results.
“I know many of you are feeling hurt and deeply disappointed… But your efforts were not in vain,” he said in a statement posted on his verified Facebook page late last night.
The party has nearly quadrupled its parliamentary presence and emerged as one of the strongest opposition blocs in modern Bangladeshi politics, he noted.
He said many had devoted their time, energy and conviction to the cause, while some faced “intimidation and harassment” simply for exercising their democratic rights. Their courage, he added, had strengthened the country’s democracy.
Acknowledging the disappointment among supporters, the Jamaat ameer said such emotions were natural when people invest their hearts in a political cause. However, he stressed that the outcome should not be seen as a defeat.
“With 77 seats, we have nearly quadrupled our parliamentary presence and become one of the strongest opposition blocs in modern Bangladeshi politics. That is not a setback. That is a foundation,” he wrote.
Referring to the shifting nature of political fortunes, Shafiqur cited the example of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, which was reduced to 30 seats in 2008 before returning to power in 2026 after an 18-year journey. Democratic politics, he said, is a long road that requires patience and perseverance.
“Our path is clear: earn trust, hold power to account, and prepare responsibly for the future,” he wrote.
The ameer said the true test of leadership in a democratic system lies not only in campaigning, but also in responding to the people’s verdict. From the outset, he said, the party had committed itself to a stable and functional democratic order — a commitment that remains unchanged.
“We recognise the overall outcome, and we respect the rule of law,” he said.
He also emphasised that the party’s movement was never about a single election. Rather, he said, it aims to strengthen democratic culture, protect citizens’ rights and build a just and accountable state.
In a separate post, Shafiqur condemned incidents of violence allegedly targeting Jamaat supporters and other political activists after the polls, warning the incoming government that the people’s mandate is “not a licence” but a conditional trust.
“People’s mandate is not a licence; it is a conditional trust,” he wrote. “The core conditions of that trust are maintaining law and order, ensuring equal protection for all, and guaranteeing the safety of every citizen regardless of political identity.”
In the post, the Jamaat chief alleged that innocent citizens and voters — including supporters of Jamaat-led 11-party alliance, independent candidates and even those holding different political views from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party — had been subjected to violence following the polls.
He strongly condemned the incidents and expressed solidarity with what he described as innocent victims.
“A nation that has just exercised its democratic rights has no place for violence, intimidation or politics of vengeance,” he wrote, adding that the “July revolution is still alive” and that people would not return to what he termed the darkness of fear and repression.
Shafiqur called on law enforcement agencies to immediately conduct impartial investigations into the reported incidents and bring those responsible to justice.
“Swift and visible enforcement of the law can prevent further deterioration of the situation and ensure that no citizen feels compelled to seek security through alternative means,” he said, urging that each incident be properly documented and recorded.
He also asked the party’s elected MPs, candidates and local leaders to visit families affected polls-related issues without delay, stand beside them and collect evidence, including photos and videos, to be formally submitted to law enforcement agencies and shared with the media if necessary.
Addressing the incoming government, the Jamaat ameer said good governance begins with establishing discipline within one’s own party and activists.
“We are committed to peaceful and responsible politics. But our commitment should not be mistaken for weakness,” he wrote, reiterating that violence, repression and politics of terror must not return to the country “from any side”.
He concluded the post by praying for the protection of the country.
