Jamaat-e-Islami, the main opposition party in parliament, said it expects Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir to remain impartial after taking oath as the president of Bangladesh and play a strong role in favour of the country, its people and democracy.

“We congratulate him. As the elected president is the president of all citizens, we hope that after taking the oath, he will act impartially and not favour any political party,” Deputy Leader of the Opposition and Jamaat Nayeb-e-Ameer Syed Abdullah Muhammad Taher told reporters at the Jatiya Sangsad premises this evening.

“He will play a strong role for the country, the people and democracy -- this is the expectation of the people from the president, and it is also our expectation,” he added.

On the defeat of Col (retd) Oli Ahmed, the candidate of the Jamaat-led 11-party alliance, Taher said they had anticipated the outcome given the relative strength of the two sides in parliament. However, he said they contested the election to strengthen democratic practices.

Mirza Fakhrul was elected president with 255 votes, while Oli Ahmed secured 88. Of the 349 MPs, 343 cast their votes.

Taher said 88 of the 90 MPs belonging to the 11-party alliance voted. One was abroad and unable to attend, while another had been expelled from Jamaat.

On the lack of scope for MPs to vote against party decisions, Taher said the July Charter had proposed allowing MPs to express their views freely on all issues except no-confidence motions and certain budget-related matters.

However, as the charter has not yet been approved by parliament, Article 70 of the constitution remains unchanged, leaving MPs without the opportunity to vote independently.

“Giving MPs the opportunity to express their independent views is extremely important for practising democracy,” he said.

Taher also called for ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to express their views freely in the upcoming local government elections, saying this would help further institutionalise democracy.

“Taking oneself to an impartial position immediately after taking oath as president is his sacred responsibility. It will not be easy. But I believe that if Mr Fakhrul Alamgir is sincere and serious, it will be possible for him,” he said.

The Jamaat leader also expressed hope that the government would play its part in implementing the July Charter. He said they would support necessary laws and reforms if these were brought to parliament for the welfare of the people.