Tarique tears into Jamaat for ‘AL-style propaganda’ against BNP
BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman on Sunday sharply criticised Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami for what he described as spreading propaganda against his party in the same tone as the “fascist Awami League”, saying the people of Bangladesh had already witnessed how Jamaat “killed lakhs of people and dishonoured women in 1971 for political gains”.
Delivering his concluding remarks virtually at the inaugural ceremony of BNP's six-day Plan to Build the Country programme, he also accused Jamaat of misleading the public with “false promises”, including claims that the party could “guarantee heaven in return for votes”.
"We hear some people or some groups nowadays – in different places or on social media – saying 'We have seen this party and that party, so now give this party (Jamaat) a chance'. But the people of this country already saw this party in 1971," Tarique said.
He cautioned party leaders about individuals from a “particular political party” who were allegedly selling tickets for different things and making promises that “only Allah can decide”.
"They are giving guarantees about matters that belong to Allah alone. The owner of Heaven, Hell, and everything in the world is Allah. Only He has the right to decide. If I claim something from my own perspective, I understand that it is shirk, associating partners with Allah," Tarique said.
Addressing the leaders of his party’s student wing, he said they should go door to door to warn people that those making such claims were committing shirk. "Anyone who listens to these claims will also fall into shirk," he added.
In a pointed reference to Jamaat, he said the party had “killed lakhs of innocent people in 1971 to protect its own political interests”, comparing it to a “fallen dictator who killed thousands before fleeing to cling to power”.
"Those who are now asking people to support – the people of this country have already seen them in 1971. They not only killed lakhs of people, but their collaborators also violated countless mothers and sisters. We must never forget this," Tarique said.
He said that when the BNP governed the country from 2001 to 2006, it inherited a nation “badly damaged by corruption under the rule of Awami League”.
Tarique said BNP, under the leadership of Begum Khaleda Zia, had worked step by step to reduce corruption. "The progress we made was reviewed by an international organisation, and that analysis has already been clearly shared with you in the leaflet. So, we can confidently say – if any party in Bangladesh can stop corruption, it is BNP. We have done it before and, Insha'Allah, we will do it again for the people," he added.
Indirectly referring to Jamaat leaders, Tarique said some people were now repeating “the same false propaganda about BNP that the fugitive autocrat once spread”.
"We recently noticed a few individuals or parties making those same baseless claims. But here is the question – two of their senior leaders were in our government at that time. Both have passed away. They were respected political figures, and we should not speak badly about those who are no longer alive," he said.
"What we can say is that they stayed in the BNP government until the very last day, showing their full confidence in Begum Khaleda Zia's fight against corruption," the BNP leader said.
He stated that although allegations of corruption had been brought against BNP during its time in power, none had ever been proven “now that the judiciary is more independent – unlike during autocratic time”. “All those were only propaganda. So, the conclusion remains – only BNP has been able to pull Bangladesh away from corruption in the past, and Insha'Allah, only BNP will be able to do it again," he said.
Tarique reminded supporters that he had warned since 5 August last year that “the days ahead would not be easy”.
"More difficult times are waiting for us. Different conspiracies are being planned from different directions. Only the people can stop these plots, and BNP, together with the people, can resist them," he said.
He said the only way to stop such conspiracies was to restore democracy. "If we can establish democracy and ensure the people's mandate at any cost, we will be able to stop many conspiracies. Yet even then, tough days are still ahead."
Tarique said his party must prioritise tackling corruption and restoring law and order. "We must rein in corruption at any cost, and ensure law and order," he said, adding that these were essential for improving health, education, women's empowerment, agriculture and the economy.
He outlined BNP’s broader vision for the country. "Our goal is to build an independent Bangladesh, where people have jobs, live peacefully, and corruption is under control. We don't want Bangladesh to become like Singapore, Malaysia, Canada, or the US – we want a self-reliant nation."
He urged student leaders to engage actively with communities across the country, meet people at their homes, and explain how the BNP planned to improve the lives of women, farmers and young people. "If we work together, we can build the Bangladesh we dream of."
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir inaugurated the programme in the morning, with BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi presiding at the event held at the Krishibid Institution Bangladesh (KIB) auditorium in Dhaka's Farmgate.
Leaders and activists of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal from across the country participated.
Source: UNB