Fascists won’t be allowed in politics 

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed has alleged that some political parties claiming to uphold Islam have dropped the phrase ‘Aqimuddin’ from their party documents and monograms.

He made the remarks while addressing the 104th annual religious conference of Al-Jamiatul Islamia Azizul Ulum Babunagar Madrasa in Fatikchhari, Chattogram, on Friday.

The home minister praised Hefazat-e-Islam for its role in protests against what he described as a government hostile to religion, the country and Islam during the anti-fascist movement and other critical periods. He said the non-political organisation's movement was led by its current amir, Allama Shah Muhibullah Babunagari.

The home minister said it took 23 years to achieve Bangladesh’s independence, while it took 16 to 17 years to free the people from what he described as a fascist and anti-ulama government.

“Many Islamic scholars shed blood at Shapla Chattar. The names and burial places of many of them are still unknown,” he said.

He said the country had been freed from fascist rule through many sacrifices. According to United Nations figures, around 1,400 people were killed during the July Uprising. He said around 3,000 people had allegedly been subjected to enforced disappearance over the previous 16 to 17 years.

Besides, around 7,000 people were allegedly killed or subjected to torture in various ways, while hundreds of thousands faced persecution through attacks and cases, he said.
Regarding attempts to create unrest in the garment sector, the home minister said forces linked to fascism were behind such efforts.

“There are some miscreants in this country who are doing politics in the name of Islam. Yet there is hardly any mention of Islam in their election manifestos,” he said.
He said those declaring themselves Islamic parties had dropped ‘Aqimuddin’ from their party documents and monograms.

“They say one thing verbally, but they do not say what evidence there is in their documents. They have never said in their manifestos that they want Islamic rule or want to introduce Sharia-based laws and regulations. Rather, they have taken a position against Sharia-based governance,” he said.

"We believe in Islamic values. We are the party that included 'Bismillah' in the Constitution. We follow the nationalist and Islamic values introduced by Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman," the minister said.
"We have built a united Bangladesh where people from all walks of life share a common national identity. We never want to see division among the people of this country," he added.

Regarding the Awami League’s return to politics, Salahuddin Ahmed said that the Awami League, which shed people’s blood to establish fascist rule and oppressed the country, will not be allowed to engage in politics in Bangladesh again.

Those who want to pave the way for their return and are creating an environment for fascism to return through misleading politics should know that the people of Bangladesh will never allow perpetrators of genocide to engage in politics in this country, he said.

He further said that the Awami League had yet to apologise or express remorse for the alleged genocide.

“Those who fled the country in the face of the July Uprising are now staying in Delhi. They will not be able to return to Bangladesh and engage in politics,” he said.

Salahuddin Ahmed said political differences and ideological divisions could exist, but the fascist forces that killed people, carried out genocide, shed the blood of Islamic scholars and stained mosques with blood would no longer be allowed to engage in politics in Bangladesh.

104th annual religious conference was presided over by Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh Amir Allama Shah Muhibullah Babunagari, while leading Islamic scholars from across the country delivered speeches at different sessions.

The two-day conference drew a large gathering of devotees from different parts of the country. It concluded on Friday night with the Akheri Munajat, or concluding prayer, seeking peace and prosperity for the country, its people and the Muslim Ummah.