Dhaka, March 23 -- Jamaat-e-Islami chief Shafiqur Rahman has said his party never called the general election fair, stressing that it only accepted the results as a pragmatic decision aimed at preventing political paralysis.

He clarified the Jamaat's stance on polls while exchanging Eid greetings with villagers and party leaders and activists at his village home in Kulaura Upazila of Moulvibazar on Monday afternoon.

Responding to questions from journalists covering the event, Shafiqur said: "We didn't say there was a fair election in the country. We have something else to say. However, we have accepted the poll results, so the country does not get paralysed."

To the ruling BNP, he said: "If you don't return to the right path, remember ...