Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman on Wednesday said that if elections are held under the current circumstances, there will be unrest and chaos, stressing the need for reforms to ensure a fair voting environment and restoring law and order.

Addressing a roadside gathering organised by the Domar upazila Jamaat-e-Islami at the Upazila Parishad ground in Nilphamari on Wednesday, he said, “If elections are held under current conditions, it will be like burying the election.”

He said that reforms are crucial to ensure a peaceful and credible electoral process.

On the issue of local government elections, the Jamaat Ameer criticised the absence of elected representatives in key local bodies, including union parishads, municipalities, upazilas, districts and city corporations, leading to public suffering.

“Our politics is not about increasing people's hardships but reducing them,” he said, calling for the immediate holding of local government elections.

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He stressed that the national election should only take place after essential reforms to restore credibility.

He also spoke about corruption and extortion, claiming that despite leadership changes, these issues persist.

“Businessmen tell us that extortionists used to collect money every month, but now they demand higher rates, saying they don't know how long they will stay in power, so they must loot as much as possible while they can,” he added.

The Jamaat chief called for  a social movement against corruption and injustice, saying, “Wherever there is extortion, we must fight. Wherever there is occupation, we must resist. This struggle will continue because the country has not yet been freed from fascism after August 5.”