Mufti Syed Muhammad Rezaul Karim, the Pir Saheb Chormonai and Ameer of Islami Andolan Bangladesh, has stated that there is no reason to trust the BNP or Jamaat-led alliances again, as both failed to eradicate corruption and terrorism during their time in power.
Addressing an election rally at the Konabari College Grounds on Friday, held in support of Maulana GM Ruhul Amin, the party’s candidate for the Gazipur-1 constituency, the Rezaul Karim remarked that both major alliances had previously enjoyed the taste of power and significant public support.
However, he asserted that they ultimately disappointed the nation, noting that Bangladesh became a “corruption champion” five times in a row during the BNP-Jamaat tenure.
He further claimed that the country was plagued by terrorism and that anarchy had spread through every level of the state.
Rezaul Karim held the BNP-Jamaat alliance responsible for the political crisis of 2006 – which he referred to as the “9/11 of 2006” – arguing that their “trickery” regarding the caretaker government system plunged the nation into long-term difficulties.
Critique of existing systems
Regarding the recent political shifts, the Islami Andolan Bangladesh ameer noted that the students and the public fought in July against the existing laws and arrangements.
Rezaul Karim criticised the BNP for wanting to govern in the same old manner and noted that Jamaat-e-Islami also speaks of running the country under the current legal framework.
He argued that voting for these parties would neither change the fate of the people nor bring any progress to the country.
Appeal for ‘Hand Fan’
Rezaul Karim emphasised that in a country where 90% of the population is Muslim, his party is the only one fighting for Shariah and Islam under the “Hand Fan” (Hatpakha) symbol.
“I have come to appeal to you to vote for Shariah and Islam,” he told the crowd, adding that he had fulfilled his duty of delivering the message.
The rally, which commenced after Jummah prayers, was also addressed by Mufti Rezaul Karim Abrar, Secretary of the Jatiya Olamaye-Mashayekh Aimma Parishad, along with other local Islamic scholars.
