BNP and Khelafat Majlis have agreed on seven issues, including holding the national election by 2025 and strengthening national unity to prevent the re-emergence of the fallen fascists.
“We have agreed on seven points, including the quick withdrawal of all false cases against the leaders and workers of the political parties that were part of the movement. In light of this, we will work especially to achieve unity among the Islamic parties and to form national unity with all,” Khelafat Majlis Secretary General Ahmed Abdul Kader said yesterday after a meeting with BNP.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star’s Google News channel. The nine-member delegation, led by Khelafat Majlis Ameer Maulana Abdul Basit Azad, held an hour-long meeting with BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and Standing Committee member Nazrul Islam Khan at the BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office.
Abdul Kader said they focused on maintaining the national unity achieved through the July-August mass uprising.
However, he noted that some political parties’ statements and activities go against the spirit of national unity. “Our stance is in favour of unity, not division. It is important to unite now for the sake of the nation. That is why we held talks with BNP…. we agreed with them on some issues.”
Kader said the major issues on which they reached an agreement with the BNP include forging unity among anti-fascist political parties, continuing inter-party dialogue to consolidate national unity, completing the necessary reforms quickly, and holding national elections by 2025.
Other key points are controlling commodity prices, improving the law and order situation, playing a positive role in upholding Islamic values and protecting religious harmony, ensuring the speedy trial of those involved in murder, disappearance, and torture, and promptly withdrawing the false cases filed against ulema and political leaders and activists during the Awami regime.
Khelafat Majlis, one of the components of the BNP-led 20-party alliance, had quit the BNP’s coalition in 2021, reportedly under duress from the then Awami League government.
This was the first time the party held a formal meeting with the BNP after leaving the alliance.
The meeting is seen as very significant, as it was held a day after Jamaat-e-Islami and Islami Andolon Bangladesh announced they would work together in the interests of the country, Islam, and humanity.
Jamaat Ameer Shafiqur Rahman and IAB Ameer Syed Md Rezaul Karim made the announcement while speaking to reporters at the Charmonai Darbar Sharif in Barishal, indicating a new political polarisation.
However, Nazrul Islam Khan said there is nothing to be worried about regarding the unity of Jamaat and IAB.
Political parties act according to their political beliefs, he said.
“This is nothing unusual… It has happened many times before that people who were once in agreement later disagreed,” he said regarding the meeting with Khelafat Majlis.
Nazrul said BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman has already declared that if the party forms the government, it will work together with the parties that waged the movement against the Awami fascist regime for the welfare of the people.