On one side of Jamaat’s scale is America, on the other is India,” says Charmonai Pir

Ameer of Islami Andolan Bangladesh, Charmonai Pir Mufti Syed Muhammad Rezaul Karim, said, “Neither BNP nor Jamaat has said that they will run the state based on Islam. They have said they will run the state according to the prevailing system. Today, those who are coming with the weighing-scale symbol are self-interested groups. They claim that the weighing scale is a symbol of justice. Yes, but what kind of justice? The scale has two pans. In one pan, we see America secretly; in the other pan, India. We are the people of Bangladesh. We do not want American justice, we do not want Indian justice. We want the justice of Islam.”

He made these remarks at around 12:30 pm on Saturday (7 February) at a party election rally held at Bauphal Public Ground in Patuakhali. The rally was organized as part of the campaign in support of Islami Andolan–nominated candidate Mufti Abdul Malek Anwari for the Patuakhali-2 constituency.

Charmonai Pir further said, “Neither BNP nor Jamaat has said that they will run the state based on Islam. They have said they will run the state according to the prevailing system. We have said that if Islami Andolan comes to power, we will run the state based on Islam. Because the country became independent 54 years ago. Due to the prevailing laws, the country has become a champion in corruption five times and has turned into a land of thieves. Because of this system, thousands of crores of taka have been laundered abroad, creating ‘Begum Para.’ The country is being run according to prescriptions from other countries. We will not be able to show fireworks of development. We have seen that when the Awami League comes to power, the BNP flees their homes, and when the BNP comes to power, the Awami League flees their homes. If Islami Andolan comes to power, no innocent person will have to flee the country.”

The rally was presided over by Mufti Abdul Malek Anwari, convener of the upazila committee of Islami Andolan and parliamentary candidate with the Hand Fan symbol. Special speeches were delivered by Islami Andolan central leaders Nasir Ahmed Kawsar and Habibur Rahman Misbah, and Patuakhali district Islami Andolan president Howlader Md. Selim Mia, among others.