FROM PAGE 1

the party’s election manifesto ahead of the last general election made no mention of Sharia law, Islamic jurisprudence, or an Islamic banking system.

Taking part in the discussion on proposed budget for the 2026-27 fiscal at the House, BNP Secretary General and LGRD Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said if the opposition makes its stance clear regarding 1971 and if it acknowledges its role, it will be easier for the party to do politics in Bangladesh.

“For your role in 1971, you have not apologised even once. You should have apologised before the nation. Had you done so, today’s problems would not have existed. But you did not. On the contrary, your leader Ghulam Azam declared that in 1971 ‘we did not make a mistake’. You can even reconsider it now,” Fakhrul said.

“You should make your position on Bangladesh clear to us, to the nation. I don’t want to go further.”

Regarding the National Citizen Party, Fakhrul said the party has forged an alliance with a party that did not believe in Bangladesh’s independence. “I hope they will clarify their politics further as they move forward. These young politicians have much potential. They will do well. We want them to succeed. But they should not carry the stigma of being associated with those who denied Bangladesh’s very existence.”

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, responding to earlier remarks in parliament, also raised questions about Jamaat’s role in the Liberation War and whether it is truly a religious party.

He noted that Jamaat MP Shahjahan Chowdhury had claimed the party’s history spanned 100 years. “In fact, Jamaat was founded on August 26, 1941. So, its history is 84 years, not 100.”

He stressed that any discussion of Jamaat’s history must also include its role in 1971. “The National Freedom Fighters Council Act clearly states that the then Jamaat opposed the Liberation War. That has been settled.”

“In 1979, when President Ziaur Rahman allowed religion-based politics, you became Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh.”

He argued that although Jamaat calls itself an Islamic party, its election manifesto contains no commitment to Sharia law, an Islamic state system, or Islamic jurisprudence. “Where have you said that you will establish Sharia, an Islamic economy, or an Islamic judiciary? Even the earlier slogan of ‘establishing deen’ has disappeared.”

Salahuddin also acknowledged Jamaat’s role in the movements of 1990 and 2024, saying, “We recognise their contributions.”

Turning to the budget, the minister said it has provided relief to the people and will help steer the economy towards self-reliance.

On governance, Salahuddin criticised past corruption, citing white papers and reports that documented illicit financial outflows averaging $16 billion annually between 2009 and 2023. He claimed that Tk 29.25 lakh crore had been siphoned off abroad through various channels, including labour migration scams.

He also urged the prime minister to direct the Anti-Corruption Commission to investigate corruption during the 18-month rule of the interim government.

The home minister also addressed law and order, noting that the police now register cases more readily, resulting in an increase in recorded crime figures.

Responding to Jamaat’s challenge over Islami Bank’s Rural Development Scheme, Salahuddin presented figures showing Tk 10,527 crore was disbursed between August 2024 and January 2026, close to his earlier claim of Tk 11,000 crore.

Meanwhile, opposition MPs yesterday branded the proposed FY2026-27 budget as anti-people and dependent on loans, warning that it would fail to meet revenue targets and fuel inflation amid banking sector woes.

Terming interest system in economy a grave sin, Jamaat MP ATM Azharul Islam said, “In a country where the majority are Muslims, we cannot allow an interest-based system to continue. Instead of relying on interest-based loans, the government could consider issuing Retail Sukuk [Islamic bond] in line with Islamic Shariah to raise funds directly from the people.”

Addressing the BNP, the Jamaat leader said, “You have called for banning Jamaat. Let me ask just one thing. Suppose we are banned. Who will fill that vacuum?”

“Will you run the country alone? Do you want to establish one-party rule? Who will fill that space? Are you trying to rehabilitate the Awami League? I believe you are...”

Another Jamaat MP Mujibur Rahman proposed forming a committee of Islamic scholars to oversee zakat collection and establishing a separate ministry.

NCP MP Nahid Islam said the budget was based on a deficit, and that the revenue target is unrealistic. He identified three major challenges: creating employment, reforming the banking sector, and addressing electricity agreements that have driven up power prices, as well as finding ways to bring them back down to a tolerable level.

He also said India should apologise for its role in supporting the AL government over the past 16 years and for the abuses committed during that period.

He criticised newly appointed Indian high commissioner, saying that “He equated India’s land and sky with Bangladesh’s, but sweet words do not soften flattened rice.”

Regarding the revocation of Ad-din’s hospital licence, Health Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain asked Jamaat MPs, “Why do you try to link every issue to your party’s ideology? A nation cannot be governed on the basis of partisan dogma.”

“What happened at Ad-din was the result of negligence … I visited the hospital the following day, and the doctors admitted that negligence had occurred,” he said while responding to the opposition’s objections to the government’s decision.