Islami Andolan Bangladesh Ameer Mufti Syed Muhammad Rezaul Karim, popularly known as Charmonai Pir, on Tuesday said corrupt individuals, extortionists and militants spread fear in the name of Islam because Islamic governance would prevent them from committing corruption, extortion and violence.
Speaking at an election rally near the WASA building in Karwan Bazar at around 2pm, he said it was natural for a country with 90 percent Muslims to be run in accordance with Islam. Yet, he added, a group deliberately creates fear whenever Islam is mentioned.
Charmonai Pir said people lived in genuine peace under Islamic governance. He claimed that in Bangladesh, non-Muslims in Charmonai live in safety “like a child in a mother’s lap” and themselves testify to this reality.
He urged voters to support the ‘hand fan’ symbol to break free from what he described as 54 years of failure, expressing hope that Bangladesh would attain its desired liberation.
He said millions had sacrificed their lives and blood to achieve independence. He also referred to the July movement, when students and young people took to the streets and laid down their lives for prosperity and good governance.
However, he claimes “Equality, human dignity and social justice failed to materialise after independence. Instead, the country repeatedly topped corruption rankings, while killings, murders and enforced disappearances spread. Public’s hard earned money had been siphoned off abroad.”
Charmonai Pir said July had created an opportunity for change, but warned that failing to use it would leave the nation’s fate unchanged.
He said “To change that fate Islam must be established, as it remained the only effective path to ensuring equality, human dignity and social justice. And history has repeatedly proven this fact.”
The rally was presided over by Islami Andolan Bangladesh joint secretary general and Dhaka North president, and Dhaka-11 parliamentary candidate, Hafez Maulana Sheikh Fazle Bari Masud.
Conducted by Dhaka North secretary Maulana Muhammad Ariful Islam, the event was also addressed by Maulana Lokman Hossain Jafri, Mufti Rezaul Karim Abrar, Labour Leader Alhaj Kamal Uddin, Student Leader Imran Hossain Noor, Dhaka-18 parliamentary candidate Alhaj Md Anwar Hossain, Dhaka-12 candidate Maulana Mahmudul Hasan Momtaji, Dhaka-17 candidate Mufti Muhammad Ullah Ansari, Dhaka-16 candidate Engineer Alhaj Md Saiful Islam, Engineer Murad Hossain, Mufti Masudur Rahman, Mufti Nizam Uddin, Engineer Gias Uddin Porosh, and youth leader Hammad Bin Mosharraf, among others.
