Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman on Saturday warned that holding another national election without cleansing the country's ‘stinking past practices’ would amount to a ‘massacre of democracy’.

"We have made it clear that before any proper election, some essential and fundamental reforms must be carried out. It cannot be the genuine political intention of any party to obstruct this reform,” he said while speaking at a programme titled ‘Sudhi Somabesh’ in Feni town.

The first step towards ensuring people’s rights is to hold a fair election, said the Jamaat chief, calling upon all to cooperate with the reform commission.

Recalling the martyrs of last year’s July movement, he said, "We will not betray our children, and no one else will be allowed to do so either. We are ready to establish the state our martyrs dreamt of, respecting the price of their sacred blood."

Any form of fascism must be resisted, reiterates Jamaat Ameer

Dr Shafiqur Rahman said they do not want to hear even a “whisper of administrative interference” in the upcoming national election. "If that’s the case, then why so many people sacrificed their lives?" he questioned.

The Jamaat Ameer reiterated his party's stance against fascism, saying that no fascism can stay on Bangladesh’s soil and they [Jamaat] have fought for the rights which are yet to be established.

He mentioned that their fight for justice and people's rights will continue until every trace of authoritarianism is wiped out. "With patriotism in our hearts and faith in Allah, we must take the country forward."

Presided over by Feni district Jamaat Ameer Mufti Abdul Hannan, the event was addressed, among others, by central and local Jamaat leaders, including central Nayeb-e-Ameer and former MP Dr Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher.

Earlier in the afternoon, the Jamaat Ameer addressed a gathering of the party Rukon at the same venue.

Jamaat wants local polls before national election 'to reduce public suffering' 

During his speech, Dr Shafiqur emphasised adopting the Proportional Representation (PR) system to prevent the rise of fascism.

He also stressed the need for holding local government elections before the next national one and insisted that all future elections must be held under a caretaker government.