Bangladesh saw how Jamaat killed lakhs of people, dishonoured women in 1971: Tarique Rahman

BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman on Sunday strongly criticised Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami for spreading propaganda against his party in the same tone as the fascist Awami League, saying the people of Bangladesh saw how Jamaat killed lakhs of people and dishonoured women in 1971 for political gains.

He also accused Jamaat of misleading people with false promises, including claiming they could 'guarantee heaven in return for votes', reports UNB.

"We hear some people or some groups nowadays – in different places or on social media – saying 'We have seen this party and that party, so now give this party [Jamaat] a chance'. But the people of this country already saw this party in 1971," Tarique said.

Tarique made the remarks virtually at the inaugural ceremony of BNP's six-day 'Plan to Build the Country' programme held at the Krishibid Institution Bangladesh in the capital's Khamarbari.

In an oblique reference to Jamaat, he said this party killed lakhs of innocent people in 1971 to protect its own political interests, just like the fallen dictator who killed thousands before fleeing to cling to power.

"Those who are now asking people to support – the people of this country have already seen them in 1971. They not only killed lakhs of people, but their collaborators also violated countless mothers and sisters. We must never forget this," Tarique said.

When the BNP governed the country from 2001 to 2006, he said, it inherited a nation badly damaged by corruption under the rule of Awami League.

Later, Tarique said BNP, under the leadership of Begum Khaleda Zi,a worked step by step to reduce corruption and improve the situation.

"The progress we made was reviewed by an international organisation, and that analysis has already been clearly shared with you in the leaflet. So, we can confidently say – if any party in Bangladesh can stop corruption, it is BNP. We have done it before and we will do it again for the people," he added.

Indirectly referring to Jamaat leaders, Tarique said some people are repeating the same false propaganda about BNP that the fugitive autocrat once spread.

"We recently noticed a few individuals or parties making those same baseless claims. But here is the question – two of their senior leaders were in our government at that time. Both have passed away. They were respected political figures, and we should not speak badly about those who are no longer alive," he said.

"What we can say is that they stayed in the BNP government until the very last day, showing their full confidence in Begum Khaleda Zia's fight against corruption," the BNP leader observed.

He said the allegations of corruption during BNP's rule were brought, but now, with a more independent judiciary – unlike during autocratic time – no charges against them have ever been proven. "All those were only propaganda. So, the conclusion remains – only BNP has been able to pull Bangladesh away from corruption in the past, and only BNP will be able to do it again."

Tarique reminded that he has been saying since 5 August last year that the days ahead would not be easy.

"More difficult times are waiting for us. Different conspiracies are being planned from different directions. Only the people can stop these plots, and BNP, together with the people, can resist them," he said.

He said the only way to stop these conspiracies is to restore democracy. "If we can establish democracy and ensure the people's mandate at any cost, we will be able to stop many conspiracies. Yet even then, tough days are still ahead."

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir inaugurated the programme in the morning with BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi in the chair at the Krishibid Institution Bangladesh (KIB) auditorium in Dhaka's Farmgate.

Leaders and activists of the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal from various parts of the country attended the event.