Anti-Jamaat slogans, placards surface at BNP event

Tensions between political allies BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami appear to have escalated further, as BNP leaders and activists openly displayed anti-Jamaat slogans and placards during a meeting at the National Press Club on Thursday (January 9).

The event, titled "71 Liberation War is the Nation's Thousand-Year Pride," was organised by the Jatiyatabadi Muktijoddha Dal, BNP’s associate body of freedom fighters. 

Throughout the meeting, attendees were seen holding placards and chanting slogans against Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing, Shibir.

Placards held by BNP activists carried strong messages, including: "Stand together against Jamaat-Shibir", "Jamaat-ISKCON are the same caste", "Those who do business with religion are Jamaat-Shibir", and "Jamaat-Shibir thrives on exploiting religion."

The meeting was presided over by Nationalist Freedom Fighters' Party President Ishtiaq Aziz Ulfat and moderated by General Secretary Sadeq Khan. BNP leaders, including Chairperson's adviser and former opposition chief whip Zainul Abdin Farroque, and standing committee member Major (Retd) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed, were present.

Other speakers included BNP Chairperson's adviser and freedom fighter Abdus Salam, alongside leaders of various levels of the Muktijoddha Dal.

The public display of anti-Jamaat sentiment highlights the increasing rift between the two parties, which have long been allies in their opposition to the Awami League government. While the exact reasons for this growing divide remain unclear, it underscores the shifting dynamics within Bangladesh's political landscape.