Bangladesh Nationalist Party secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Saturday slammed the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, accusing the party of political opportunism, passing inconsistent messages, and exploiting religion for its own gain.
He said that there was propaganda claiming that anyone who obtained a Jamaat ticket would also secure a ticket to heaven.
鈥楾his is not right. Using religion for political milage is wrong; Islam never endorses it,鈥� Fakhrul said.
Fakhrul also said that the party, which had long insisted on proportional representation for elections, had now noticeably softened its tone.
Criticising the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami for shifting its stance, Fakhrul said that it was now clear that there were activities everywhere for the elections, with drums and trumpets seeming to sound all around.
鈥楾hese things are not right. Whatever you tell the people, you should tell them correctly and one should follow that path. Misleading people and guiding them聽 down the wrong path 鈥� I do not know where in Islam this is allowed,鈥� he said.
Fakhrul made the remarks at a discussion titled 鈥楾he leading role of caretakers in mosque-based mass and child literacy programme鈥� conducted by the Islamic Foundation for developing morality and religious values in nation-building, held at the Institution of Diploma Engineers at Kakrail in the capital.
Indicating the Jamaat, the BNP secretary general said that the most important point was that the party could not even establish itself in the political arena on its own, while the late President Ziaur Rahman had given them the opportunity to enter politics.
Fakhrul said that they first came under the name Islamic Democratic League and later they also worked with the BNP.
The BNP secretary general said that unfortunately, in the past ten years, they had not seen any visible efforts by the party to oppose fascist Hasina.
Fakhrul criticised the demand for a referendum with four questions, warning that they would confuse voters.
Highlighting the upcoming elections in February, he called for unity to ensure a fair and inclusive vote that could establish a democratic government and parliament.
Fakhrul said that parliamentary discussions would address national issues as the decisions would reflect the people鈥檚 will.