Bangladesh's Jamaat-e-Islami Party Accused of Buying Votes Ahead of Historic Election

The Jamaat-e-Islami party came under fire for allegedly attempting to buy votes through a combination of cash payments and religious appeals, promising Bangladesh voters both money and “salvation from grave punishment" in exchange for their support. Pamphlets circulated nationwide by the Jamaat coalition reportedly pledge 15,000 taka (around $125) to voters who back the party and its leader Shafiqur Rahman, according to documents accessed by NDTV. The leaflets instruct voters to photograph their stamped ballots as proof. Read more: No Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh Votes In Historic First In Three Decades The pamphlet, which opens with “Assalamu Alaikum," reads, “You must fulfil the promise of having all family members vote for the ‘Dari Palla’ (weighing scale) symbol. This promise will make your afterlife free of sin and grant salvation from grave punishment." It further states that Jamaat workers have already collected voter ID numbers and mobile numbers linked to bKash, Bangladesh’s leading mobile financial service. Voters who submit photographic proof of voting for Shafiqur Rahman in the Dhaka-15 constituency would receive payment via bKash or cash, with some money offered in advance. The leaflet concludes: “This leaflet must be kept completely secret, keeping the Great Allah as witness." This election marks the first democratic contest since the downfall of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who had previously banned Jamaat-e-Islami. The 11-party alliance led by Jamaat is now competing against its former ally, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), in the race to form the next government. Read more: From Exile To Student Leader, These Five Contenders Are Eyeing Bangladesh PM’s Post After casting his vote, Shafiqur Rahman said that his party would accept the results “if the election were held fairly". He urged the media to “play a neutral role" and dismissed widespread reports of electoral irregularities as a “laylatul gujob" (night of rumours).