Jamaat-e-Islami Chief Warns BNP Against Adopting Fascist Governance Tactics
Jamaat-e-Islami leader Shafiqur Rahman has issued a stern warning to the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), accusing the party of adopting the same authoritarian tendencies that led to the downfall of the ousted Awami League government. Speaking at a rally organized by the 11-party alliance in Sylhet on Saturday, Rahman cautioned that those now in power were once themselves victims of state repression, yet they are currently engaging in unchecked politicization and the normalization of corruption across all sectors.
The rally, held at the Government Alia Madrasa ground, was convened to demand the implementation of a national mandate for political reform and justice for the victims of the July uprising. Addressing the crowd, Rahman warned the current administration that the public, having successfully ousted former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, would not hesitate to mobilize against a new wave of fascism. He emphasized that the movement would persist until the goals of the July revolution are fully realized, warning that any betrayal of the martyrs or the public trust would be met with unwavering resistance.
Beyond political critiques, Rahman used the platform to highlight the persistent marginalization of the Sylhet region. He demanded the immediate modernization of Osmani International Airport, the expansion of the Dhaka-Sylhet highway into a six-lane thoroughfare, and the establishment of dedicated engineering and medical universities to better serve the region's population.
The gathering featured sharp rhetoric from other coalition leaders, including Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Chairman Colonel (Retd.) Oli Ahmed, who urged the current leadership to address the failures in law and order and the persistent influence of corrupt business conglomerates. Ahmed specifically challenged the administration to investigate the roles of prominent business groups, suggesting that partisan protectionism remains a systemic issue.
National Citizens’ Party (NCP) convener Nahid Islam struck a defiant tone, warning that if the government fails to implement the requested reforms and respect the national mandate, it will not survive its current five-year term. He called upon BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman to choose between a path of democratic accountability or the fate suffered by previous regimes that disregarded the popular will. Islam further demanded a comprehensive overhaul of the Election Commission prior to any local government elections to prevent the continuation of partisan influence in state institutions.
Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish leader Mamunul Haq echoed these sentiments, framing the current political climate as a test of the administration’s integrity. He warned that the coalition would exhaust all peaceful avenues to ensure reform, but added that they would not hesitate to take aggressive action should the government choose to betray the spirit of the July revolution. The rally underscored a deepening rift between the interim authorities and the broader coalition of parties that played a significant role in the recent political transition.
