Opposition Leader and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman on Friday accused the ruling BNP of employing a "deceptive strategy to destroy everything," declaring that the opposition has lost all trust in the government after staging a walkout from parliament.
Speaking at a press conference in the parliament media center following the chaotic end to the legislative session, Dr. Shafiqur said the opposition walked out to avoid falling into the government's "trap of deceit" after a political consensus on passing interim government ordinances was blatantly violated.
"We told them to their faces today, 'You have broken your promise. We have no faith in you,'" Dr. Shafiqur said, detailing a series of events that led to the opposition's first major protest in the thirteenth parliament.
He explained that a special committee with members from both sides was formed to review 133 interim government ordinances, and a consensus was reached to pass 98 of them "as they are" without amendments.
However, he alleged that the ruling party members finalized the committee's report without a final joint meeting, marking the beginning of the breakdown in trust.
The Opposition Leader said that despite the government initially trying to sideline key ordinances, the opposition had argued successfully in the Business Advisory Committee to have all 133 ordinances discussed, even agreeing to work on a holiday until midnight to meet the constitutional deadline.
"But what happened today? We saw that important issues tied to national security and the lives of every citizen were ignored and placed on a list to be lapsed," he said.
The final straw was the passage of the July Mass Uprising Memorial Museum Bill. "There was a complete consensus that this bill would be passed unchanged, as it was in the ordinance. It was even tabled that way. But suddenly, a government party member raised his hand, proposed three amendments, and they were passed without us even being given a chance to know what the amendments were," he said.
Dr. Shafiqur said the move was a clear attempt to politicize the museum, quoting government members who openly argued that the institution could not be run without ruling party control.
"They even tried to tempt us by saying, 'Today you are in opposition, but when you are in government tomorrow, you will get this same benefit.' We said, 'Shame!' We are not here for benefits; we are here to protect the rights of the people," Dr. Shafiqur recounted, adding that the Speaker did not heed their objections.
In a serious charge, Dr. Shafiqur said the government has deliberately allowed crucial ordinances on the Anti-Corruption Commission, Police Reform Commission, and Enforced Disappearances to expire.
"These are the institutions that were used to establish fascism and kill countless people. The Referendum Ordinance is also gone. They will only pass bills that maintain fascism and consolidate power," he declared.
The Jamaat chief questioned the very legitimacy of the February election, citing recent comments by a former interim government adviser and a current state minister.
"A state minister said that while students led the movement, the 'captain' handed the trophy to Professor Dr. Yunus in London. Shame! If the trophy was decided there, then what kind of election was this? It means the nation was blackmailed, and the election's fate was decided behind a curtain," he alleged.
Dr. Shafiqur concluded by vowing to continue the fight for the people's rights on the streets. "We did not get justice in parliament, but God willing, we will achieve that demand with the people. The path to solving all problems will open when the people's verdict and the referendum verdict are implemented," he said, vowing his party was ready for any sacrifice.
When asked if he trusted the government's assurance that the lapsed ordinances would be brought back as bills in the next session, Dr. Shafiqur was dismissive. "We told them to their faces you have broken your promises, we have no faith in you. We do not believe they will bring them later."
The press conference was attended by Opposition Chief Whip Nahid Islam and other senior lawmakers from Jamaat-e-Islami and the opposition alliance.
