Dhaka, Dec 8:
As Bangladesh’s political climate heats up ahead of next year’s national election, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has launched a sharp, though indirect, criticism of the radical Islamist party Jamaat-e-Islami. The BNP accused Jamaat of attempting to manipulate public sentiment by exploiting religious sentiments, according to reports in local media.
Speaking at a party event in Dhaka on Monday, senior BNP leader Salahuddin Ahmed said the people of Bangladesh had “unmasked” a political group that has “no policy, no ideals, and no plan,” but seeks to mislead citizens by playing the “religion card.” He added that the public now recognizes the party’s true intentions.
Taking a pointed swipe at Jamaat-e-Islami without naming it directly, Ahmed mocked claims made by the party that voting for its election symbol could help voters attain paradise.
“Those who want to enter Jannah without any effort should first find out where the bus station is,” he remarked sarcastically, arguing that the party is deceiving the nation by selling a “religion tablet.”
The criticism intensified on Sunday when BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman accused Jamaat of spreading propaganda against his party. Speaking virtually at the same event, Rahman reminded citizens of Jamaat’s role during the 1971 Liberation War, alleging that the group was responsible for the killing of hundreds of thousands and the violation of countless women while siding with Pakistan.
Rahman dismissed recent appeals urging voters to give Jamaat another chance, saying that the people of Bangladesh “have already seen this party in 1971” and must not forget its past actions.
The political rift comes as groups that once cooperated with Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus to oust the Awami League government are now in conflict among themselves. With elections drawing near, tensions between BNP and Jamaat appear to be escalating, further intensifying the already volatile political atmosphere in Bangladesh.
