BNP MP calls for ban on Jamaat politics

A BNP lawmaker on Monday called for banning the political activities of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, alleging that the party had opposed the country's independence during the 1971 Liberation War.

Speaking during the budget discussion in Parliament, Jhalakathi-1 constituency MP Rafiqul Islam Jamal said any political force that stood against the creation of Bangladesh should not be allowed to engage in politics in the country.

Referring to Jamaat without initially naming the party, the BNP legislator said, "The party that opposed the independence of Bangladesh in 1971 should not be allowed to do politics in the country. I demand in this House that its politics be banned in the same way fascist politics has been prohibited."

Jamal also criticised Jamaat's campaign activities during the 13th parliamentary election, accusing the party of using religion for political purposes.

He said that merely having the word "Islam" in a party's name did not make it Islamic and alleged that some political groups had made controversial religious promises to attract voters during the election campaign.

His remarks appeared to refer to comments made by Jamaat candidate Faizul Haque in Jhalakathi-1 during the election campaign. Haque had reportedly said that even a smoker might be forgiven by Allah if he responded to the party's electoral symbol, the scales. Jamaat later issued him a show-cause notice over the statement.

TZ