“Our words will move the administration, our words will arrest, our words will file cases” — a chilling insight into Jamaat’s electoral blueprint.
At a Jamaat-e-Islami event in Chittagong on Saturday, central executive member Shahjahan Chowdhury laid bare a startlingly aggressive approach to the upcoming parliamentary elections. Speaking at the party’s ‘Nirbachoni Daittoshil Shommelon’, Shahjahan articulated a vision in which party influence would extend into every administrative and institutional layer, from primary school teachers to law enforcement.
Shahjahan’s remarks—“Our words will move the administration, our words will arrest, our words will file cases”—signal a strategy not merely to campaign, but to co-opt state mechanisms for political advantage. He detailed tactics for controlling local bureaucrats, police officers, and even educators, framing this as essential for securing electoral success.
Such statements raise urgent questions about the party’s commitment to democratic norms. While political parties naturally seek influence, openly advocating for manipulation of law enforcement and local officials crosses a line from political strategy into potential systemic interference. Analysts warn that this approach, if acted upon, could compromise the fairness of the electoral process and erode public trust in democratic institutions.
Meanwhile, Jamaat’s Amir, Shafiqur Rahman, in his speech, focused on anti-corruption rhetoric and the party’s historical patience under alleged oppression. His remarks on promoting a corruption-free and disciplined political culture contrast sharply with Shahjahan’s operational directives, revealing a tension between ideological messaging and tactical execution within the party.
Observers argue that Shahjahan’s candid disclosures may reflect broader patterns in Jamaat’s local organizational culture—where electoral victories are pursued through direct influence over institutional actors rather than purely through public persuasion. The explicit naming of administrative figures and schools further suggests a granular, localized plan to assert control across multiple constituencies.
For Bangladesh’s electoral ecosystem, these revelations underscore the need for heightened vigilance. Independent monitoring, active civil society engagement, and transparency in election administration are essential safeguards against potential abuses of power. As the nation approaches the next parliamentary polls, Shahjahan Chowdhury’s remarks serve as both a warning and a lens into the shadow strategies some political actors may employ.
