BNP doing ‘photocopy’ of past fascist practices

Leader of the Opposition and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman on Sunday accused the government of abandoning its promises to the people and following the path of fascism, warning that a failure to resolve political disputes in parliament could push the opposition back onto the streets.

“We do not want to see the government as deceptive; we want it to honour the commitments it made to the people,” he said, speaking at a discussion organised by the Bangladesh Labour Party at the National Press Club in Dhaka to mark the second anniversary of the July mass uprising.

“If parliament fails to resolve the issues, the streets will be our destination,” he added.
“An exact copy” of the past regime

Shafiqur alleged the ruling party was repeating the practices of the previous administration it had helped remove from power.

“Whatever the fascists did in the past, we are seeing an exact copy of that in you,” he said. “Just as they resorted to conspiracies, propaganda and force to suppress dissent, you have already adopted all those methods.”

He questioned why a party that had itself endured years of repression was now, in his words, embracing the character of a fascist government, and criticised what he called the politicisation of state institutions, alleging that partisan figures were being appointed to key positions.

Shafiqur also cautioned against what he described as opportunists surrounding the government. “Remember, if you nurture a cobra with milk, one day its bite may cost you your life,” he said.
“These people belong to no one. They destroy society and ultimately destroy themselves.”

Calling for greater tolerance of criticism, he said those in power must accept scrutiny of their conduct. “A person and his responsibilities are not the same. Those in office will face criticism, and if they want to remain in office, they must learn to tolerate it.”

Presiding over the programme, Bangladesh Labour Party Chairman Mostafizur Rahman Iran said the spirit of the 1971 Liberation War and the July 2024 uprising was the same, since both movements were fought against discrimination. He demanded implementation of the July National Charter and the referendum verdict.

LDP President Col (retd) Oli Ahmad, speaking as the keynote speaker, alleged that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman was “surrounded by enemies” and urged him to act on the aspirations of the people rather than heed what he called “foreign agents.”

National Citizen Party Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwary said the government had already failed on multiple fronts, pointing to power and fuel shortages, problems in the banking sector, and rising political violence.

“We were promised that not only the faces of fascism but the entire system would change. That did not happen,” he said.