Don't lecture us on mob justice: Khelafat Majlis ameer

Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis Ameer Mamunul Haque has warned the "controversial" advisers of the interim government against showing excessive "civility" and cautioned them not to lecture his party on mob justice.

Speaking at a mass rally in Rajshahi yesterday (11 February), he said his party had shed blood in past movements and would continue to stand its ground.

"I am explicitly telling the controversial advisers not to show too much civility. Do not try to make us understand mob justice. We have shed blood on the streets from 2013 to 2021," he said at the event, organised by the Rajshahi district branch of Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis.

Issuing an open challenge, he said, "If you consider us to be objects of pity, then it is an open challenge – come and face us. Facing us will not be so easy."

Mamunul Haque further said, "We say in no uncertain terms that we will live with Islam in this country. We will continue to hold the flag of Islam high. If you try to defeat us, remember that we do not live as tenants in this country. We will live with ownership rights in this land bought with blood."

Khelafat Majlis leaders from the central, Rajshahi divisional, metropolitan, and district levels also addressed the rally, criticising statements made by Adviser Mahfuz Alam.

On 10 February, in a Facebook post, Mahfuj called for an end to mob violence.

The adviser did not specify which incident he was referring to in his post. However, a number of incidents of mob violence and vandalism took place in recent days.

'Hasina, Taslima trying to create chaos'

At the rally, criticising former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, Mamunul claimed she and author Taslima Nasrin share the same ideology, saying, "Sheikh Hasina and Taslima Nasrin are jointly trying to create chaos inside Bangladesh. If their countrymen try to rehabilitate Sheikh Hasina in the name of Taslima Nasrin, it will be resisted."

He further stated, "The thought of '71 was the spirit of liberation, and the spirit of '72 was the spirit of slavery. The main principle of Sheikh Hasina's politics was division, destruction, and slavery."

Regarding Awami League, he said the party must change its name and apologise before engaging in politics again.

He also claimed there was an attempt to take credit for the July revolution, warning that such efforts would be met with resistance. "The students and the people will protest by shedding blood," he said.

Calling for unity among political parties, he urged them to stand together against what he termed "anti-nationalists."