Published: 01:45 AM, 19 October 2026
BNP is acting like unseated fascists: Jamaat Ameer
Dr. Shafiqur Rahman, the Ameer of Bangladesh Jamaat-E-Islami and Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, has said that the BNP government is following the same path as the ousted Awami League.
He said the BNP government had destroyed all state institutions during its seven months in power. The opposition had initially intended to cooperate with the government in the country's development efforts, but the government had failed to accept its cooperation. The government was now following the path of the previous authoritarian regime. Therefore, from now on, the opposition would work to support the 180 million people of the country. "Even if Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) changes, we will not change our position. Insha'Allah, we will ensure the implementation of the July Charter and the verdict delivered by the people through the referendum," he said.
Dr. Shafiqur Rahman made these remarks on Sunday (18 October 2026) during an open discussion organized at the Shafiqul Kabir Auditorium of the Dhaka Reporters Unity in Segun Bagicha, Dhaka. The event, titled "One Year of the Promises and Expectations of the July Charter: A Review," was organized by Amar Bangladesh Party (AB Party).
Referring to the BNP, the Jamaat chief said the party had forgotten its past overnight. "Until the afternoon of August 5, 2024, the BNP was a party like ours. From that point onward, it suddenly forgot its past. Although we had differences of opinion on certain issues, we had no disagreement over the referendum. We wanted the referendum to be held first so that it would not face uncertainty. But they did not want that. Instead, they insisted on holding it on the same day. As a result of their decision, the national election and the referendum were held on the same day. The Election Commission also stated that a Member of Parliament was required to take two oaths, but they did not do so. From that very day, BNP became aggressive," he said.
The Jamaat Ameer added that BNP lawmakers had taken their oaths as members of Parliament but had not taken their oaths as members of the parliamentary council. Instead, he accused them of continuing a pattern of conspiracy against and betrayal of the nation.
"They are now trying to argue, in various ways, that the people elected them to form a government and remain in power for five years. However, if the BNP had respected the results of both votes, we would not have needed to launch a movement outside Parliament. They themselves have pushed the opposition toward the path of protest," he said.
Dr. Shafiqur Rahman also alleged that opposition lawmakers had been denied special allocations. He said lawmakers from the ruling party had already received special allocations in 208 constituencies, while not a single opposition lawmaker had received any.
"We had hoped that the mass uprising of 2024 would bury rotten politics and give birth to a new political culture. That was the people's expectation. But the country has once again been dragged back in the same direction. In the end, even buffaloes have been subjected to taxes. Now, even this livestock has to pay for grass," he said.
