Islami Andolan threatens to take it to streets demanding Farooki’s removal from Advisory Council

Harshly criticising the interim government over the appointment of Mostofa Sarwar Farooki as the cultural affairs adviser, Islami Andolan Bangladesh (IAB) Senior Nayeb-e-Ameer Mufti Syed Muhammad Faizul Karim Shaykh-e-Charmonai today (15 November) said the party would take it to the streets if the filmmaker is not removed from the Advisory Council.

If that does not happen, the matter will be resolved in the streets, he said, adding the people wanted to know how fascism supporter Farooki was deemed qualified to become an adviser.

After he took oath on 10 November, IAB had condemned Farooki's appointment, with Faizul Karim, who is popularly known as Charmonai Pir, calling him a "socially destructive, Islamophobic, and supporter of the Hefazat-e-Islam genocide".

"Was there a shortage of competent and honest people in Bangladesh that it was necessary to include a fascist, socially destructive individual as an adviser?" he asked in a statement on 13 November, saying the appointment of a controversial figure to the interim government has cast doubt over the entire administration.

Speaking at a rally organised by the IAB Kotwali unit near Babubazar Mazar in the capital today, Mufti Faizul Karim also accused fascist elements of attempting to destabilise the nation and expressed deep concern over the resurgence of fascism and its associated evils.

"Fascism and its allies are once again raising their heads," he warned. "They are deeply involved in conspiracies against our country. Even after the mafia groups fled the country, their associates are still hatching plots to create chaos both domestically and internationally."

He lamented the lack of progress in addressing societal issues such as inequality, corruption, and violence since the 5 August mass uprising.

Addressing the economic crisis, Mufti Faizul Karim demanded immediate steps from the interim government to control inflation, alleviate the suffering of the common people, break syndicates, and ensure that prices are within the reach of the average citizen.

Saying the minority community in Bangladesh was safe from violence, he accused the Awami League of using this issue as a political tool and called upon the international community to disregard such propaganda.

Regarding electoral reforms, the religious leader also advocated for the implementation of the Proportional Representation (PR) system. He argued that the system would help curb corruption and ensure a more representative government.