Parties promise plenty before polls, rivals forced to flee after victory: Charmonai Pir
Corruption, terrorism and foreign dependence to end if hand fan wins, he says
Political parties present grand promises of development before elections, but once one comes to power, others cannot even stay in their homes and are forced to flee, Islami Andolan Bangladesh Ameer Mufti Syed Muhammad Rezaul Karim, popularly known as Charmonai Pir, said today (7 February).
"I promise that if you make the 'hand fan' symbol victorious, no one will be forced out of their home. Corruption will be eliminated, terrorism will be uprooted, and the country will be freed from foreign dependence," he said while addressing an election rally at Bauphal Public Ground in Patuakhali in support of Islami Andolan Bangladesh-nominated candidate Mufti Abdul Malek Anwari.
Addressing young voters, the Islami Andolan chief said local government elections and national elections are not the same, as those elected to parliament make the laws that govern the country.
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"Even if individuals are good, a country cannot run well under bad policies," he said.
Referring to the July mass uprising, the Islami Andolan Bangladesh ameer said students and the public had fought against old laws and rules, adding that everyone knows where those laws and systems have taken the country over the past 54 years.
"The upcoming election will decide the nation's fate. If the country continues under the same laws and rules after the election, the sacrifices of the youth will go in vain," he said.
Claiming his party was the only one to call for changing existing laws and rules to establish Islamic law, the Charmonai Pir urged young and first-time voters to cast their first vote "in favour of Islam, the nation and humanity."
He also said Bauphal had deep Islamic roots and voters should reflect that in the election.
Leaders from the party's central and local units also spoke at the rally, held around noon.
