Jamaat leader Taher calls for swift implementation of July Charter

Jamaat-e-Islami Nayeb-e-Ameer Syed Abdullah Muhammad Taher today urged the government to take "crucial decisions quickly and decisively" to implement the July Charter and ensure that the upcoming national election is held in February as planned.

"This could have been done three months ago. All parties have already reached a consensus in principle. Yet, it delays ...If such conspiracies continue and the required reforms and solutions are not implemented, everything will be called into question," he said

Taher was talking to reporters at the VIP terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka after returning from New York.

Emphasising that the election must be held in February, the Jamaat leader said, "Those who are creating obstacles to implementing the reforms, or if the government delays the reforms for any reason that ultimately affects the election, they will have to be held accountable to the nation."

He expressed hope to attend the meeting of the National Consensus Commission scheduled for tomorrow.

Jamaat Nayeb-e-Ameer Taher, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, National Citizen Party Member Secretary Akhter Hossen were among the political figures who accompanied Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus and joined the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly.

Commenting on the inclusion in the Bangladesh delegation, Taher said, "It was a summit of heads of all UN member states. From Bangladesh, it was exceptional that key political stakeholders were included in a government delegation. This is the first time in the country's history."

Sharing his experience at the assembly, Taher said, "There was a meeting of foreign ministers attended by representatives from almost all countries. I had the opportunity, albeit briefly, to represent the foreign ministry and hold separate discussions with many of them."

Taher also mentioned attending an event organised by the Investors Forum of Bangladesh and a reception hosted by expatriate Bangladeshis in various US cities.

"We discussed what Bangladesh is thinking about expatriates and what they are thinking about the country—especially the issue of voting rights for expatriates, which was never addressed before. We also talked about forming a separate body to facilitate investment from expatriates," he said.