A section within the government, including what he described as “pro-fascist elements” hiding in the administration, is encouraging the Awami League to return to the country and resume political activities, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar alleged on Friday.
He made the allegation while responding to questions from journalists after attending the inaugural session of a two-day educational camp for members of the Jhenaidah district Jamaat working committee at the party office around 11:30am.
“When a country has a government, intelligence agencies, police administration and other security agencies in place, how can a party whose political activities have been banned hold processions in Gulshan and Dhanmondi in the capital and in districts across the country?” he asked.
“It cannot be that the government, civil administration and intelligence agencies knew nothing about it. A banned political party cannot hold processions across the country without their signals or indications,” he added.
Regarding the country's security situation, Porwar alleged that Sheikh Hasina, a convicted killer sentenced to death and someone who has fled the country, is putting Bangladesh's security at risk from Delhi by issuing statements to the media.
“The support she is receiving from there is a threat to Bangladesh. The Delhi government itself is a threat to the country’s security,” he said.
“Apart from that, we do not see any internal security threat in the country. I believe what the neighbouring country is doing in regards to Hasina is unethical in terms of an independent foreign policy,” he added.
On the opposition's role in addressing the fuel crisis and people's sufferings, Porwar said, “The opposition had given the government 38 written proposals to deal with the fuel crisis, but it accepted none of them.”
“The opposition had formed an informal shadow cabinet, but the government did not accept any of its suggestions. We organised protest processions in metropolitan cities against the sudden increase in fuel prices and conveyed our position to the government,” he said.
Referring to a statement by State Minister Mir Shahe Alam, Porwar said, “Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami is not ungrateful; BNP is ungrateful. They could not have formed the government in 2001 without Jamaat’s support. But they deprived Jamaat of all opportunities and benefits.”
He also accused BNP of corruption and spreading what he said was false allegations against Jamaat.
“No Jamaat-e-Islami leader or activist engages in money laundering or corruption. Having nothing to say about the opposition, BNP is spreading false hatred. The corruption they are committing has surpassed all previous records. The people of the country have become fed up with their land grabbing and extortion,” he said.
Jamaat Central Assistant Secretary General Maulana Abdul Halim, Director of the Jashore-Kushtia region Mobarak Hossain, Jhenaidah district unit President Ali Azam Mohammad Abu Bakar, controversial Kushtia MP Amir Hamza, and leaders and activists from different levels of the party were present at the event.
