Terming the Awami League a 'club of fascism' rather than a political party, Leader of the Opposition and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman on Tuesday said the party has lost all moral and democratic rights to practice politics in Bangladesh.
"If politics means public welfare, nation-building, ensuring social justice, and eliminating discrimination, the Awami League possesses none of those qualities. Therefore, they have no right to do politics in Bangladesh," he said.
He made these remarks while addressing a discussion and views-exchange meeting with the family members of the victims of the October 28, 2006 "logi-boitha" clashes, arranged by Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami at the IDEB Bhaban in the Capital.
The Jamaat chief issued a stern warning against those attempting to rehabilitate the Awami League.
“Some quarters are pampering them. Do not play with venomous snakes, this very snake will strike and finish you. No one should even daydream about the return of fascism in Bangladesh,” he said.
He questioned how those who ordered indiscriminate shootings on unarmed youth and turned mothers' laps empty could ever return to the political arena to receive wreaths.
Recalling the 2006 ‘logi-boitha’ clashes at Paltan, he said the Awami League has historically relied on state-sponsored terrorism, bloodshed, and unlawful killings to cling to power from the 1972–75 era to the last 15 and a half years.
He alleged that the party withdrew the 2006 murder cases upon assuming power through backdoors, only to later judicially execute top Jamaat leaders in what he called ‘false cases’ decades later.
“They must bear the consequences of their misdeeds. We will see the end of this trial,” he said.
Reiterating that Jamaat will never compromise on the blood of the martyrs, the opposition leader demanded exemplary, fair trials for all perpetrators of political killings.
He also called on the current administration to respect the public mandate for fundamental political change and proceed with constitutional reforms to ensure fascism never resurfaces.
