The government has ignored repeated proposals from Jamaat-e-Islami to address the country’s electricity, gas and fuel crisis, the party’s Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar said on Friday.
He said opposition parties had repeatedly advised the government on the ongoing energy crisis, while they had also hired experts at their own expense and submitted recommendations for its resolution.
“Jamaat-e-Islami and other opposition parties want to cooperate with the government, but the government is opposing us merely for the sake of opposition,” Parwar said.
He made the remarks while speaking to journalists during an organisational visit to Jhenaidah around 11:30am.
Asked whether the opposition’s shadow cabinet was helping the government, Parwar said opposition parties had submitted at least 38 proposals since taking seats in parliament.
“We submitted these proposals to advise and assist the government in dealing with various crises,” he said.
However, he claimed, the government had not accepted any proposal from Jamaat or other opposition parties so far.
He described the government’s allegation that the opposition was not cooperating as “ridiculous”.
Parwar also criticised the BNP, describing the party as “ungrateful”.
He said Jamaat had supported the BNP for five years after the 2001 election in the interest of the country and to counter what he called “hegemonic forces”.
He said Jamaat had also supported the BNP when it formed the government in 1991.
“But after forming the government, the BNP sent Jamaat’s then central ameer to jail,” he said.
Parwar further alleged that Jamaat activists were killed in Dhaka, Rajshahi and Khulna and that Islami Chhatra Shibir activists were killed by Chhatra Dal activists on university campuses.
“We repeatedly wanted to cooperate with the BNP,” he said.
Parwar rejected allegations that Jamaat was encouraging Awami League activists to return to the streets.
He questioned how activists of a politically banned party could hold processions in Dhaka and elsewhere despite the presence of the government, intelligence agencies and law enforcement agencies.
“If there was no encouragement or support from the government or law enforcement agencies, how could such a political programme take place?” he asked.
“We challenge anyone to publish evidence if they have information about any communication or alliance between Jamaat and the Awami League,” he said.
He urged political opponents not to oppose Jamaat simply for the sake of opposition.
Earlier, Parwar attended a training session at the Jhenaidah district Jamaat office in Hamdah as the chief guest.
Jhenaidah district Jamaat ameer and Jhenaidah-2 MP Ali Azam Mohammad Abu Bakar, district secretary Abdul Awal, Kushtia-3 MP Mufti Amir Hamza and other party leaders and activists attended the programme.
