The BNP has accused Jamaat-e-Islami of exploiting religious sentiments and attempting to buy votes during the ongoing election campaign.

Speaking at a press conference today (28 January) at the BNP Election Steering Committee office in the capital's Gulshan, the party's Election Steering Committee spokesperson and adviser to the BNP chairman, Mahdi Amin, alleged that a particular political party is misusing religion to influence voters.

Without naming Jamaat directly at first, he said the party is seeking votes by invoking religious emotions, offering "promises of paradise," administering oaths on the Holy Qur'an and even proposing financial inducements via mobile payment platforms such as bKash. 

"Those who are themselves trying to purchase votes with money cannot credibly lecture others about corruption," he said, questioning what he termed their "so-called integrity."

Mahdi also accused the party of continuing what he described as "fascist-era propaganda" by reviving the narrative that Bangladesh had been labelled a "world champion in corruption" during the BNP's previous tenure in office.

He said corruption had in fact declined steadily after the BNP assumed power in October 2001. Citing an international index, he said Bangladesh's corruption score stood at 0.4 when the BNP formed the government, reflecting the performance of the previous administration between 1996 and 2001. 

According to Mahdi, the score improved to 2.0 by 2006 when BNP left office, attributing the change to the party's "zero tolerance" stance on corruption and the establishment of an independent Anti-Corruption Commission.

He further noted that the party now criticising the BNP had been part of the government between 2001 and 2006, with two ministers and several members of parliament. "We did not hear them raise these allegations while they were in office. Now, in the electoral campaign, they are maintaining the same line of propaganda. We see this as political double standards," Mahdi said.

He also criticised a recent campaign speech by the Jamaat chief, who promised to establish a public university in Bogura and upgrade the Bogura municipality to a city corporation. Mahdi said both initiatives had already received state approval and were undergoing administrative processes. Presenting them as new commitments, he alleged, is an attempt to mislead voters.

In a separate matter, he condemned the reported dismissal of a mosque muezzin, Al Amin Chowdhury, in Sapahar upazila of Naogaon for campaigning in favour of the BNP's electoral symbol, the sheaf of paddy. 

Mahdi alleged that the dismissal followed pressure from activists of another party and demanded the muezzin's immediate reinstatement.

Tarique to visit Rajshahi on Thursday

BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman is set to visit Rajshahi on Thursday after more than two decades.

Tarique is expected to formally introduce 13 parliamentary candidates from the three districts at an election rally at the city's Madrasa ground. Local leaders are therefore anticipating a huge turnout. They hope it will be the largest political gathering in Rajshahi's history.

After the Rajshahi rally, Tarique is scheduled to leave for Bogura via Naogaon later the same day.

BNP / Jamaat-e-Islami / Exploiting religion / 13th national election