Jamaat-e-Islami Is Now as Popular as Ziaur Rahman’s BNP: Taher

Jamaat-e-Islami is now as popular a political party as the BNP founded by martyred President Ziaur Rahman, said Jamaat’s Nayeb-e-Ameer (Deputy Chief) Dr. Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher.

He made the remarks on Friday (November 7) while speaking at a discussion marking National Revolution and Solidarity Day.

Dr. Taher said, “Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was good at delivering speeches, but not at governing. His people only engaged in looting and corruption.”

Referring to the people’s experience over the past 54 years, he said, “In all this time, the people have seen many leaders, but they have never found freedom from corruption.”

Expressing doubt about the current BNP leadership, Dr. Taher said, “Today’s BNP is not Ziaur Rahman’s BNP. There is uncertainty there.”

He mentioned that Ziaur Rahman had introduced the concept of multi-party democracy, “but strangely, his followers now seem reluctant to uphold it.” Addressing BNP’s current leadership, he said, “They don’t understand that the people want change.”

With confidence, the Jamaat leader claimed that “Jamaat-e-Islami is now as popular as the BNP was during Ziaur Rahman’s era.” He added, “People don’t want to vote for extortionists. Jamaat-e-Islami has now become as popular as Ziaur Rahman’s BNP once was.”

At the same event, Jamaat’s Assistant Secretary General Rafiqul Islam Khan reiterated the party’s position on the July uprising and constitutional reforms.

He said, No political party led the July movement — it was driven by ordinary people. Rafiqul Islam clearly demanded that a referendum must be held on the basis of the July Charter, and that the national election should take place by mid-February.

Supporting this demand, Dr. Taher said, “If the referendum is held first, 80 percent of the voters will say they want reform.” He warned all concerned parties, saying, “If you try to impose something the people don’t want, frustration will grow among them. We want a referendum before the February national election.”