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Special Correspondent: Bangladesh
Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General and former MP Mia Golam Parwar has accused
the BNP-led government of becoming embroiled in political confusion within
seven months of taking office, blaming what he described as political immaturity,
short-sighted leadership and a series of controversial decisions.He alleged that the
government had failed to demonstrate political competence and maturity, adding
that several ministers and lawmakers had already left their positions during
its brief tenure.“Within seven months,
the government has become completely entangled in its own mistakes because the
BNP has failed to move away from political immaturity and short-sighted
leadership,” Parwar said.He made the remarks as
the chief guest at a programme marking the 49th founding anniversary of
Bangladesh Labour Party at the party's central office in Segunbagicha, Dhaka,
on Wednesday. Labour Party Chairman Dr Mostafizar Rahman Iran presided over the
event, attended by senior leaders of the 11-party political alliance.Parwar praised the
Labour Party for maintaining its political principles despite what he described
as temptations involving ministerial positions, power and political patronage.
He said many small political parties had compromised their principles in
pursuit of personal benefits and positions.He thanked the Labour
Party on behalf of Jamaat-e-Islami and the 11-party alliance for maintaining
its association with what he termed patriotic, anti-hegemony and Islamic
political forces.Highlighting the
economic difficulties facing ordinary people, Parwar said workers and
low-income families were struggling to cope with rising living costs, while
labour unrest continued in the garment and industrial sectors.He criticised the
government's tendency to blame opposition parties for protests and road
blockades, arguing that the unrest was rooted in economic hardship and workers'
dissatisfaction.According to Parwar,
inflation had exceeded 9 per cent, while the prices of essential commodities
were rising even faster in some categories. He said the pressure of higher food
and non-food expenses had made it increasingly difficult for working-class
families to maintain their livelihoods.He urged the government
to engage with factory owners and labour representatives to establish a minimum
wage consistent with prevailing market prices.The government, he
said, had a responsibility to address workers' demands through negotiations
rather than attributing labour unrest to political provocation.The Jamaat leader
strongly criticised the government for allegedly holding the opposition
responsible for instability, crime and disorder.He said Jamaat Ameer
and Opposition Leader Dr Shafiqur Rahman had taken a firm stand against
criminal activities and accused the government of attempting to shift
responsibility for extortion, land grabbing, drug-related offences, terrorism
and corruption onto the opposition.Parwar alleged that
such accusations were intended to divert public attention from the government's
own shortcomings.He also questioned the
government's reliance on intelligence assessments, arguing that the
intelligence and law enforcement structures inherited from the previous Awami
League administration had not been adequately reformed.Referring to
allegations of enforced disappearances, politically motivated arrests and the
abuse of law enforcement agencies under the previous government, he warned
against repeating similar practices.He said the government
should not label criticism of its actions or party-based appointments as
attempts to destabilise the country.“The responsibility of
the opposition is to expose the government's wrongdoing before the nation. Does
that mean nothing can be said? This is the path towards fascism,” he said.Parwar further alleged
that the government was attempting to silence opposition voices while
continuing practices associated with the previous administration. These
allegations could not be independently verified from his remarks alone.Parwar also accused the
government of appointing party loyalists to various public and autonomous
institutions, including city corporations and district councils.He criticised Chief
Whip Nurul Islam Moni over remarks he attributed to him during a visit to
Barguna, alleging that the chief whip had threatened to withhold development
allocations from union parishads that failed to elect BNP candidates.Parwar questioned
whether such a statement was appropriate for a senior parliamentary official,
arguing that development funds should not be used as instruments of partisan
political pressure. He maintained that the
opposition had protested against alleged politicisation and rising prices
without resorting to hartals, blockades, arson or vandalism.He cited increases in
gas and electricity prices, fertiliser shortages, rising commodity prices and
reports of serious crimes as issues that had contributed to public
dissatisfaction.A major part of
Parwar's speech focused on the July Charter, constitutional reform and the
implementation of the referendum results.He claimed that
approximately 70 per cent of voters had supported the referendum's proposals
and argued that the government should respect the public mandate rather than
reject the reform agenda.According to him, the
referendum had endorsed 84 consensus issues and effectively rejected the BNP's
recorded notes of dissent on the disputed proposals.Parwar called on the
government to engage with opposition parties and implement the constitutional
reform proposals developed through the consensus commission.He said the prime
minister had also urged people to vote 'Yes' in the referendum, adding that he
wanted to believe the BNP had supported the same position.The Jamaat leader urged
the government to recognise the referendum outcome as a means of preserving
political stability and avoiding further confrontation.He argued that the
opposition had so far refrained from launching violent protests despite its
disagreements with the government because it wanted to prevent the country from
descending into instability.“We still believe the
government has time to act. Let us sit together and implement the
constitutional reform proposals agreed upon through the consensus commission,”
he said.The government,
however, has not been represented in the account of the event, and its response
to Parwar's allegations was not available at the time of writing.Parwar warned that
confrontational politics and the government's alleged failure to honour the
referendum mandate could create an opportunity for the Awami League to regain
political ground.He said the BNP,
Jamaat-e-Islami and other opposition parties had previously united in the
movement against authoritarian rule, and argued that continued cooperation over
constitutional reform could prevent the return of political forces associated
with the previous administration.According to him,
rejecting the referendum's reported mandate while creating tensions on the
streets would undermine the spirit of the July uprising.He also questioned the
government's contribution to supporting the families of those killed and
injured during the July movement, claiming that Jamaat-e-Islami and opposition
leaders had provided medical assistance and other support to affected families.Parwar said the
government should demonstrate its commitment to the July movement by respecting
the people's demands for institutional and constitutional reforms.He cautioned the
authorities against pushing the country towards disorder and renewed political
confrontation, arguing that such an approach could ultimately benefit the very
political forces the movement had sought to dislodge.Concluding his address,
Parwar called on people across the country to participate in the third phase of
the opposition alliance's long march scheduled for October 31.The march is planned to
cover Dhaka, Khulna, Jashore, Jhenaidah and Kushtia as part of the alliance's
campaign over constitutional reform and the implementation of the referendum
results.He also conveyed
greetings and best wishes from Jamaat Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman to the Labour
Party on the occasion of its 49th founding anniversary.
Parwar's remarks
underscored the widening political disagreement between the government and
opposition parties over governance, workers' rights, public appointments and
the future of constitutional reform. Whether the dispute will lead to renewed dialogue
or further political mobilisation is likely to remain a key question in
Bangladesh's evolving political landscape.