Main purpose of London visit was to meet Khaleda Zia: Jamaat chief Shafiqur

The main purpose of Jamaat-e-Islami's top leaders' visit to London was to meet BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, the party's Ameer Shafiqur Rahman revealed today (17 April).

"I was thinking of meeting her even before leaving the country. But for whatever reason, that did not happen. I went on a trip to Europe, and the closest country was Belgium. We also needed to go to the UK," he said in response to a question about his latest trip to Europe at a "Meet the Press" event organised at The Westin Dhaka in the capital this afternoon.

"We met her [Khaleda] first. Alhamdulillah, she received us with love and respect. The main purpose of our [London] trip was to meet her. Since she is staying at the residence of her eldest son, the party vice chairman, it is natural that he will also be there," explained the Jamaat chief who recently returned to the country.

Apart from Shafiqur, Jamaat's Nayeb-e-Ameer Syed Abdullah Abu Taher also met with Khaleda during their recent visit to London. The meeting took place on 13 April.

Speaking about the discussions during his meeting with Khaleda Zia, the Jamaat chief hinted that they talked about political issues, including the next national election.

He said, "Even if two unknown ordinary people of Bangladesh sit in a tea stall, they talk about politics. And is it realistic that we, the responsible people of the two parties, will sit in one place and there will be no talk of politics? It is not realistic."

"There was talk, but we did not talk about any specific issues. [We talked about] when the elections will be held, how the elections will be held, and how the judicial process will be conducted. We had general discussions on various issues. There was no decisive discussion on this," he added.

Regarding the BNP-Jamaat dispute, Shafiqur said, "There can be political disputes. I saw disputes between the two parties in the US during the last [presidential] election."

He hinted towards a unity with the BNP in running the county after the next national election.

"Once the elections are over, handshakes follow, and everyone can run the country together. We also have to move in that direction. We want differences of opinion in politics. Otherwise, politicians will become blind. Differences of opinion are needed to open closed eyes. But we also hope that this does not turn into disagreements," he said.

At the press brief, the Jamaat chief also spoke about the persecution of both his party and the BNP under the Awami League-led government during its long 15-year rule.

"Like Jamaat, BNP has also been subjected to similar repression. We have lost 11 top leaders, countless workers have been killed and maimed. BNP has also lost many leaders and workers. Our party leaders have been subjected to enforced disappearances in the Aynaghar, murders, cases and persecution. Lakhs of BNP leaders have also been persecuted. Not in thousands, but in lakhs.

"As a person, on one hand, Begum Khaleda Zia has been oppressed, on the other hand, she is ill," said Shafiqur.