Elected Jamaat MPs will not accept govt plots or tax-free cars: Shafiqur

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman today said that elected Jamaat members of parliament would not take government plots or benefits, and would live as they do now.

"Jamaat MPs will not accept any government plots. We have announced that our lives will remain as they are now; we will not avail tax-free cars for this reason either," he said.

He added, "People will not vote for us to impose taxes on them; rather, they will vote for us to guard their rights. Our politics will be successful only if we can guard those rights. Otherwise, we are failures. We do not want to fail. However, we seek strong criticism if we make mistakes."

Shafiqur made these remarks while speaking at a gathering of dignitaries in Sylhet city upon his return after a 14-day foreign visit.

He also said there are systemic obstacles that prevent expatriate Bangladeshis from casting their votes, and that his party has submitted recommendations to the government to remove these barriers.

"We sent a delegation to the government yesterday with recommendations to remove the obstacles, and the government has assured us that they will try," he said.

The Jamaat chief said, "We will make sure the expatriates' representation in all areas of national development is proportional to their numbers abroad. That is justice."

Addressing journalists at the gathering, he said, "The media is the fourth pillar of society, the pillar that keeps the spine of the three constitutional pillars straight. We request that you call what's white white, and black black. Do not spare me, even."

He said several active Islamic and patriotic parties are already cooperating with Jamaat, and others are showing interest.

"We will move forward with everyone," the Ameer said. "A friendly organisation has said that if they are elected, they will form the government by including everyone except Jamaat-e-Islami. If we are elected, we will include them in forming the government."

He added, "And if we have to sit in the opposition, we will be a companion like a worker in good deeds. If they [the government] engage in old ways, then just as we sacrificed our lives for movements and struggles before, we will not give up in the future."