Prominent civil society members have strongly criticized the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Jamaat-e-Islami for their role in “inflicting violence on people.” During a discussion on Thursday organized by Sampriti Bangladesh, a platform of distinguished citizens, ahead of the 12th National Parliamentary Election, speakers emphasized the urgent need to rid the country of fundamentalism, asserting that fundamentalists should have no place in the parliament.
The event, held at ATM Shamsul Haque Auditorium, CIRDAP, focused on the theme "No Place for Communalism in a Harmonious Bangladesh." Participants reflected on the BNP's 2023 movement to topple the government without election, especially post-October 28, which saw rampant arson attacks on vehicles, vandalism, and railway sabotage leading to derailment and fatalities. The consensus was clear: these actions were fundamentally undemocratic, disregarding public safety and undermining the electoral process.
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Speakers questioned the democratic nature of actions like bus burnings, police killings, and railway destruction, especially in light of election boycotts by the parties involved.
The leadership of Tarique Rahman, BNP's acting chief residing in London, was also a focal point. His reported outreach to Jamaat leaders, despite their commitment to establishing Sharia law, was cited as evidence of the BNP's disregard for Bangladesh's future.
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The event also recalled the last BNP-Jamaat rule, with renowned writer and academic Muhammed Zafar Iqbal highlighting the inclusion of war criminals in the cabinet, which sparked widespread cultural movements.
Rana Dasgupta, general secretary of the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Oikya Parishad, emphasized the importance of keeping fundamentalists and radicals out of the upcoming parliament.
Reflecting on Khaleda Zia's leadership, discussants noted her government's inclusion of war criminals and state-sponsored terrorism against progressives and minorities from 2001 to 2006.
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The diminished public support for the BNP-Jamaat, evident in rally turnouts, was seen as a sign of their reduced influence and the lack of impact from their election absence.
Ranjan Karmaker, a rights activist and presidium member of the largest minority platform, told media that he has shared with foreign diplomats and election observers that Jamaat's absence from the polls marked a positive step towards a secular nation, especially considering the historical context of Bangabandhu's assassination and subsequent erosion of secular values by BNP founder Ziaur Rahman and his successors.