BNP vice chairman Shamsuzzaman Dudu has accused Jamaat-e-Islami of misusing religion in politics, saying the party lacks public trust and has no realistic prospect of forming a government in Bangladesh.
He made the remarks on Thursday while speaking at a discussion held at the Jatiya Press Club. The programme marked the 18th founding anniversary of the Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Pharmacy Association.
Dudu said the organisation he referred to had failed to maintain the confidence of the public and survived politically by what he described as deception. He alleged that it used religious rhetoric while acting contrary to religious principles.
“If I mention the name, everyone will recognise them. They can never stay with the trust and confidence of people. They have no significant public support, let alone any possibility of forming a government. They use Islam and at the same time act against Islam. In politics, they have nothing except lies. That group is Jamaat-e-Islami,” he said.
He added that there was a group in politics that “cannot think beyond falsehood”.
Referring to the recent measles outbreak, Dudu said many children had died from the disease. He claimed that UNICEF had sent written warnings to the then government five times, but that the issue had been ignored. He described the situation as part of broader failures during the Awami League era.
“The failures of the Awami League and the interim government are now falling on BNP’s shoulders,” he said.
Dudu said the BNP had already taken steps to address the outbreak. He warned that diseases previously eliminated had re-emerged due to administrative lapses and called for urgent government intervention. He also said pharmacists had a crucial role in managing the public health response.
Turning to the Liberation War, he said people across Bangladesh understood in 1971 the need for independence. He alleged that one political group had opposed Bangladesh’s independence and supported Pakistan, referring again to Jamaat-e-Islami.
He said that when such groups now speak about national welfare, they are concealing their past. He urged people to remain alert to what he described as political misrepresentation.
Dudu also alleged that some groups were spreading division through social media and propaganda. He claimed that certain actors had previously influenced educational institutions and benefited from political appointments in universities.
He urged party activists to remain cautious and called for strengthening the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.
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