Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiquar Rahman has issued a stern warning against electoral fraud ahead of the upcoming city corporation elections in Bangladesh, emphasizing that those involved in vote rigging will face consequences. Speaking at a party activist conference organized by Jamaat’s Dhaka North unit on Friday at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre in Dhaka, Shafiquar Rahman acknowledged past weaknesses in safeguarding the party’s votes during recent elections.

“When people tell us they voted for us but the votes were not protected, we have to recognize our shortcomings,” he said, urging party members to learn from these experiences and improve their preparations for the city corporation polls scheduled soon. He expressed gratitude for the support Jamaat received in the national elections and stressed the need for vigilance to prevent the repetition of previous mistakes. “No vote thief will be spared,” Shafiquar Rahman added, calling for unity against potential wrongdoers and emphasizing the party’s determination to intensify efforts during the elections.

During the event, the Jamaat leader also inaugurated a new app named Nagorik Sheba (Citizen Services), developed by the Dhaka North unit. The app offers more than 50 services aimed at facilitating citizen engagement.

Separately, the Jamaat-e-Islami-led 11-party alliance voiced concerns over potential manipulation in the upcoming Thakurgaon-1 by-election, which is set for October 29. AHM Hamidur Rahman Azad, coordinator of the alliance’s Liaison Committee and assistant secretary general of Jamaat-e-Islami, alleged that preparations were underway to rig the by-election, drawing parallels to what the alliance described as “election engineering” during the February 12 general election.

Azad suggested that despite a strong wave of public support for the alliance’s candidate, Delwar Hossain, local authorities or political opponents might attempt to interfere with the voting process. He made the remarks during a press briefing following a Liaison Committee meeting held at the residence of the Leader of the Opposition in Dhaka. The meeting included leaders from the 11-party alliance and was chaired by Azad.

Referring to past electoral controversies, Azad highlighted the 1994 Magura by-election during the Bangladesh Nationalist Party government as a “black chapter” in the country’s electoral history, drawing attention to the ongoing challenges regarding election integrity in Bangladesh. The alliance called for vigilance and transparency to ensure a fair voting process in Thakurgaon-1.