BANGLADESH has finally reached the point it was destined to reach; the rest is mere commentary.

The people have clearly delivered their verdict in favour of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). We welcome this decision and congratulate Tarique Rahman, who has been elected Prime Minister. Several aspects of Bangladesh’s elections are noteworthy. Given recent unrest and past trends, there were serious apprehensions that the electoral process might turn violent. Contrary to these fears, the elections remained largely peaceful—an encouraging and new reality for Bangladesh. Equally significant is the conduct of Jamaat-e-Islami, which accepted the BNP’s victory with grace and extended its congratulations. In this context, the statement by Jamaat’s Ameer, Dr. Shafiqur Rahman, deserves appreciation: his party will not indulge in opposition for the sake of opposition, but will instead play a constructive role. These two developments inspire hope that a new and positive phase is beginning in the land of Bengal.

Another heartening reality is that pro-Pakistan political forces have emerged victorious in Bangladesh. Whether it is the BNP or Jamaat-e-Islami, both can be regarded as reliable from Pakistan’s perspective. For Pakistanis, a key point of interest in Bangladesh’s elections is the performance of Jamaat-e-Islami. The question of whether Jamaat could have formed the government is intriguing. In Pakistan, sympathy for Jamaat is not limited to its affiliates alone; many ordinary citizens feel emotionally connected to it due to its sacrifices for Pakistan’s integrity and the........

© Pakistan Observer