Jatiya Oikyafront Convener Dr Kamal Hossain yesterday said it was a mistake on the part of his party Gonoforum to have joined the December 30 polls with Jamaat-e-Islami leaders contesting under the alliance banner.

He also said they would put pressure on the BNP to sever its ties with Jamaat in order to keep the unity of the Oikyafront intact and strong. 

Dr Kamal made the statements following a meeting of his party's central committee at its office in the capital's Arambagh.

"I've already publicly said that I was not aware of Jamaat's participation in the election [under the banner of the Oikyafront]. When I gave consent [to contesting the polls under the alliance's banner], I was not informed about Jamaat. I think you can call it a mistake," he told journalists.

Around 70 leaders from the Gonoforum's central committee participated in its first meeting after the 11th parliamentary polls. It began at 10:00am and concluded around 3:45pm.

The meeting was organised to discuss the party's next course of action following the election.

The Awami League-led grand alliance won the polls bagging 288 out of the 299 seats. The election to the remaining seat of Gaibandha-3 will be held on January 27.

The Jatiya Oikyafront won eight seats, including six for the BNP and two for the Gonoforum.

Twenty-two Jamaat leaders contested the election with the “sheaf of paddy”, the BNP's electoral symbol.

One of the framers of the country's constitution, Dr Kamal had earlier been criticised for allowing Jamaat leaders to take part in the polls under Oikyafront's banner.

Jamaat-e-Islami had opposed the country's 1971 Liberation War and its top leaders were involved in crimes against humanity.

The BNP has claimed that whoever contested the election with the “sheaf of paddy” symbol were candidates of their party, not of Jamaat's.

The AL said that one of the reasons for the Oikyafront and the BNP's defeat in election with a margin so huge was that they allowed Jamaat leaders to participate in it.

Jatiya Oikyafront rejected the election results, alleging widespread polls irregularities and rigging. They also demanded fresh polls following a national dialogue with all stakeholders.

The AL rejected the demand.

After Gonoforum's meeting, Dr Kamal told reporters that he never did politics along with Jamaat and would not do so in the future either.

"My position is clear. We never did politics along with Jamaat nor [are we] thinking of doing so in the future. Whatever you've said about our politics involving Jamaat, we were not aware of it," he said.

When asked what the Gonoforum's position would be if the BNP did not sever its ties with the Jamaat, he said, “We will talk about it if it happens.”

Gonoforum General Secretary Mostafa Mohsin Montu said their party forged the alliance with the BNP, not with the 20-party or the Jamaat. 

He said, “We raised our objection when the 22 Jamaat leaders were nominated to contest the election with the 'sheaf of paddy'. The BNP's secretary general told us they [the Jamaat leaders] were nominated as BNP candidates.”

Asked whether his party's two elected MPs would take oath, Montu said they would discuss it and decide later.

At the meeting, he said their leaders discussed the post-election atmosphere and worked out their party's future course of action.

Montu said their leaders strongly believe that to wage a democratic movement in the days to come and to “restore democracy”, there was no other alternative to national unity.

Dr Kamal said there was no disagreement among the people regarding the formation of the parliament through a fair and acceptable election.

“No one apart from the ruling party spokesmen are saying that a fair election was held on December 30, while there is no scope for saying it. I don't think it's a big deal to resolve such a problem. The government should hold a fair election within two to three months, enabling everyone to cast votes in the interest of the country and the constitution.

“People should be given a chance so that they can cast their votes as per their will. If you get the majority of the votes in a fair election, it'll be meaningful. If a government is formed through a fair and credible election, it will be easier for it to discharge its duties properly.”

Speaking to The Daily Star, several Gonoforum leaders who were present at the meeting said they discussed the strengthening of the Oikyafront in such a manner that no one can “malign its reputation because of the Jamaat and the BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman.”

The meeting also decided to hold its central council on March 23 and 24.

A resolution has been introduced at the United States’ House of Representatives against Jamaat-e-Islami, the group involved in war crimes during Bangladesh’s Liberation War.

US Congressman Jim Banks introduced the resolution on February 28, calling Bangladesh to curb the activities of Jamaat.

The resolution ‘Expressing concern about the threat posed to democracy and human rights by theocratic groups operating in South Asia’ also called upon Pakistan for the same.

READ MORE: BNP called to cut Jamaat ties

It expressed that the US should more actively engage with Bangladesh regarding shared interests in safeguarding human rights, religious freedom, and secular democracy in Bangladesh, while preventing the growth of religious extremism and militancy.

It “calls on the Governments of Bangladesh and Pakistan to deny, disrupt, and dismantle the ability of Jamaat-e-Islami and its affiliates to continue posing an immediate and ongoing threat to religious freedom and regional stability”.

It also called on all US agencies to halt all partnerships and funding arrangements with groups affiliated with Jamaat its domestic affiliates, including the Islamic Circle of North America, ICNA Relief, Helping Hand for Relief and Development, and the Muslim Ummah of North America.

The resolution identified Jamaat as a patroniser of terrorist and jihadi activities in South Asian region for quite some time now.

The High Court today directed the Election Commission to dispose of in three working days the application filed for cancellation of the candidacy of 25 Jamaat-e-Islami men.

The court also issued a rule asking the government to explain in four weeks why the EC’s decision to allow 25 Jamaat candidates to contest in the elections despite the cancellation of their registration should not be declared illegal.

In the rule, the court also asked the EC to show causes why the commission should not be directed to cancel their candidacy.

The HC bench of Justice Md Ashfaqul Islam and Justice Mohammad Ali came up with the order and rule following a writ petition filed by Bangladesh Tarikat Federation and Amra Muktijoddhar Sontan seeking cancellation of the commission's decision to allow 25 Jamaat-e-Islami leaders to contest the December 30 elections.

The petitioner yesterday submitted the application to the EC saying that the HC in 2013 scrapped Jamaat-e-Islami's registration with the EC, so the party's leaders cannot be allowed to contest the polls.

Road, Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader today said that the war crimes trial would continue even if Jamaat-e-Islami seeks apology for its crimes against humanity during the Liberation War of Bangladesh in 1971.

Quader, also general secretary of ruling Awami League, came up with the remarks while talking to reporters at the political office of the party at Dhanmondi in Dhaka.

“It’s not clear yet why the matter of seeking mercy by Jamaat has appeared after 47 years of independence. It might be their political strategy. However, they have not said anything officially yet over the matter. Even if they seek mercy, the trial of war criminals which is underway would not be stopped,” said Quader.

Responding to another question, he said, “What would be the big difference if Jamaat changes its name...it is like old wine in new bottle. It is all the same if there remains the same old ideology in the new name.”