Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman has commented that it is not fair for anyone from the interim government to join this government.
He said, “If the government takes initiatives in favour of the interests of the country and the people, it will have our cooperation. If it acts against the public interest, we will protest and resist.”
The Jamaat ameer made these remarks to journalists after his oath-taking ceremony on Tuesday.
He said, “We could not pay tribute to the July martyrs. We couldn’t become part of the government party; there is no regret about that. With the announcement of the results, the election festivity has faded away. The people of the country could not fully fulfill their trust. The oath letter was given late at night. This is uncomfortable.”
Shafiqur Rahman said, “We have respected the aspirations of July and the verdict of the referendum. Not taking oath for the Constitution Reform Council is contrary to public aspiration. This is opposition to reform. If the BNP is respectful to public aspiration, it will take oath for the Constitution Reform Council. The parliament cannot sit with honour by disrespecting July.”
He further said, “Our wish is for democracy to take institutional form. We want every citizen to get security, for employment to be created. Since the night of the election, men and women are being attacked in various areas because they voted for us. We want this to stop. If the government plays a positive role, we will cooperate.”
Dr Khalilur Rahman, who served as national security adviser to the interim government, has already received a call to become a minister under the technocrat quota.
In the thirteenth national parliamentary election held on Thursday (February 12), the BNP-led alliance under Tarique Rahman’s leadership won 212 seats, achieving an absolute majority.
This is the BNP’s sixth ascent to state power in Bangladesh’s history. On the other hand, Jamaat-e-Islami is set to take the role of the main opposition party in parliament with 68 seats for the first time.
