Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer and Leader of the Opposition Dr Shafiqur Rahman has accused the government of showing signs of fascism, although he stopped short of describing it as a fascist administration.
“Fascism is not confined to any particular political party. It is a virus,” he said, adding that several signs of it had emerged within the government.
Shafiqur made the remarks on Saturday (November 14) at a conference organised by Jamaat’s central Youth and Sports Department at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB), in Dhaka.
Referring to the August 5, 2024, mass uprising, he said people had demanded fundamental state reforms and an end to repression, corruption and authoritarian practices.
He accused the ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) of abandoning its reform commitments after winning the parliamentary election.
Shafiqur said discussions involving 33 political parties had led to the July National Charter, but the government was now disregarding the commitments endorsed in the subsequent referendum.
“They made clear promises to the nation and then broke them. We will not accept this deception, and neither will the people,” he said.
Referring to the referendum, in which 68.59% of valid votes backed the proposed constitutional reform framework, he accused the government of ignoring the public mandate.
The BNP maintains that constitutional reforms must be implemented through parliamentary procedures, while Jamaat and its allies have demanded implementation through the mechanism outlined in the July Charter.
Shafiqur warned that the young people who had participated in the 2024 uprising would resist any attempt to establish another authoritarian system.
He said Jamaat and its allies in an 11-party alliance were continuing protests to press seven demands concerning political reforms and citizens’ rights.
The Jamaat chief also expressed concern over rising drug abuse, juvenile gangs and what he described as deteriorating social conditions.
He alleged that political patronage had allowed criminal networks to expand, blaming successive governments for failing to tackle the problem.
Turning to education, Shafiqur accused the government of allowing partisan appointments at educational institutions, alleging that some senior positions were being filled by politically connected individuals lacking the necessary qualifications.
He called for honest leadership ahead of the upcoming local government elections and urged young people to work towards a society based on justice, accountability and public welfare.
Jamaat leaders, lawmakers, and representatives from the Youth and Sports Department from across the country attended the conference
