Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami chief and opposition leader Dr Shafiqur Rahman visited the National Citizen Party’s temporary central office in Banglamotor, Dhaka, on Tuesday evening. He said the visit was not intended to create a new political equation, but to convey a message that political forces should remain united. NCP convener and opposition chief whip Nahid Islam and other party leaders welcomed him with flowers and gifts.

Rahman said Jamaat and its allies had fought together in and outside parliament during the previous election. Although his party had “significant reservations” about the election results, it accepted them for the broader interests of the country, nation and democracy. He said the opposition was trying to play a constructive role in parliament but was being deprived of benefits, including development allocations compared with government-party members.

He said the 11 parties were jointly campaigning for the public’s fundamental demands, while describing their arrangement as election-based rather than a formal alliance. Rahman said work had begun on a shadow cabinet. Nahid said they would raise issues including gas, electricity and fuel shortages, higher fertiliser prices and public hardship in parliament and on the streets.