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Bangladesh Nationalist Party secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Saturday said that the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami was misleading the people by spreading lies about the upcoming Jatiya Sangsad elections.

Fakhrul said, ‘A party is saying that the BNP wants to delay the elections, but it is they who are actually trying to delay the polls.’

Fakhrul made the remark at a rally organised by Jatiyatabadi Muktijoddha Dal, the organisation of pro-BNP freedom fighters, at the National Press Club, to mark the upcoming National Revolution and Solidarity Day on November 7.

Noting that the BNP has never called for delaying the elections, he said, ‘We have always said that the elections should be held as soon as possible. So, I would like to tell them —don’t deceive people with lies or try to mislead the people.’

Referring to a recent remark by Jamaat nayeb-e-ameer Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher, he said that the Jamaat leader had wrongly blamed the BNP for obstructing the elections.

‘It is you who have created the obstacles. You are now demanding proportional representation, which was never part of the discussions. You are forming alliances, taking to the streets, and issuing threats that if it’s not done your way, the election will not happen. Do not think people are fools,’ he said.

Asked, Jamaat assistant secretary general Ahsanul Mahboob Zubair, however, said, ‘The Jamaat was never against elections, as our party has already primarily selected the candidates for the Jatiya Sangsad polls in the 300 constituencies.’

He further said, ‘We never created obstructions during the discussions of the National Consensus Commission but cooperated with it, while the BNP had given notes of dissent on various issues.’

‘So, the allegation made by Mirza Fakhrul that the Jamaat is trying to delay the elections is not true. Rather, we think that the BNP is trying to delay the election,’ he added.

Fakhrul also alleged that an attempt was being made to downplay the War of Independence by over-glorifying the July uprising.

Hinting at Jamaat, he said, ‘A certain force — those who opposed Bangladesh’s independence in 1971 — is trying to downplay 1971. They want to portray the July 2024 movement as something bigger.’

The BNP does not want divisions, but some people and some forces are trying in a planned way to create divisions in society, he commented.

‘They want us to forget 1971. Their goal is to establish that Bangladesh did not become an independent and sovereign state through struggles and a war. We want to make it clear —there is no room for forgetting 1971,’ he said.

About the July National Charter 2025, Fakhrul said, ‘We will take the responsibility for the part of the July Charter that we signed but we will not take the responsibility for the part we did not sign.’

‘At the time of signing the charter, we made it clear that only those issues on which the political parties agreed would be included for signing, and the issues on which there was no consensus would be recorded as notes of dissent,’ he said.

‘But now it appears that there is no mention of those notes of dissent at all. Our statements have been completely omitted and instead new points have been added — this is undoubtedly an act of deception against the people,’ he added.

Noting that the country is passing through a very critical time, he said, ‘This is a test for us — how patiently we can face this period and ensure that the elections are held.’

About a recent comment by chief adviser Muhammad Yunus, Fakhrul said, ‘He himself said that there could be attacks at any time. He should have clearly mentioned from where such attacks might come and who would make the attacks.’

Noting that the nation is ready to resist any attack and face any conspiracy or evil force, he said, ‘I want to make it clear that the people of the country cannot be defeated by creating fear or threats. The people of the country want democracy and a democratic system.’

Meanwhile, ¶¶Òõ¾«Æ· staff correspondent from Rajshahi reported that BNP standing committee member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury on Saturday alleged that certain political quarters were plotting to delay the upcoming polls by imposing their views on others.

‘The purpose of the National Consensus Commission was that whatever consensus is reached, we would take that to the people. The consensus was reached and signed; now they are coming up with new demands beyond that. …By doing this, they are trying to delay the upcoming election,’ he said.

He made the remarks while addressing business leaders as the chief guest at a conference of Rajshahi division traders held at the Rajshahi zila parishad auditorium.