Dhaka is buzzing with political tension as Bangladesh gears up for its February 12 elections. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has unleashed a scathing attack on the hardline Jamaat-e-Islami, accusing it of spreading fascist propaganda to sway voters.
In a fiery press conference in the capital, BNP Election Steering Committee spokesperson and party chairperson advisor Mahdi Amin didn’t hold back. He branded Jamaat’s claims labeling BNP as the ‘world champion of corruption’ as blatant political hypocrisy and a desperate bid to mislead the public.
Amin pointed out the irony: during BNP’s 2001-2006 tenure, when Jamaat held ministerial posts and parliamentary seats, they stayed silent on corruption. ‘Now, in the electoral arena, they’re recycling the same old fascist playbook—nothing but political charlatancy,’ he declared, as quoted by The Dhaka Tribune.
The BNP leader went further, alleging Jamaat is exploiting religious sentiments by promising paradise, swearing on the Quran, and offering financial incentives to buy votes. ‘Those accused of vote-buying lack the credibility to lecture on corruption,’ he scoffed.
Such tactics, Amin warned, violate electoral codes and undermine democracy. He urged the Election Commission to crack down on disinformation and fascist politics that threaten the people’s mandate.
BNP vows to expose Jamaat’s campaigns through sustained political and constitutional battles. Earlier this week, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir rallied in Thakurgaon, indirectly warning against Jamaat. Speaking at BD High School Ground in the Sadar upazila, he implored voters not to doom the nation by supporting those accused of collaborating with Pakistani forces during the 1971 Liberation War.
Fakhrul, contesting from Thakurgaon-1, emphasized preserving the spirit of 1971. ‘Those who aided the Pakistani army till the end are now begging for votes to run the country. Don’t destroy Bangladesh by voting for them,’ he said, per The Daily Star. ‘Our identity stems from that war. We fought Pakistan’s exploitation and won independence.’
As accusations fly, Bangladesh’s polls promise high drama, with opposition unity fracturing and religious rhetoric heating up the race.