Jamaat chief Shafiqur brushes aside talks of dispute with BNP

On forming an alliance with the BNP again, he says many things can happen “for the needs of the country”

Jamaat-e-Islami chief Shafiqur Rahman has said his party holds no quarrel with its former ally, the BNP, despite differences in political opinion that have emerged over time.

On Thursday, he pointed to the rivalry between the Republican Party and the Democratic Party of the United States to stress that the conflict between BNP and Jamaat amounted to nothing.

“But after the election, they shook hands. One party took charge of the government and the other became the opposition. Now they’ll run the country together and that’s natural,” he said.

Attending a press briefing at the Westin Hotel on Thursday, Shafiqur shared words of the visit to several European Union nations.

Shafiqur had also met BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia in London during the visit, which drew headlines recently.

He said he had discussed politics during the courtesy call with Khaleda, though he did not disclose what was discussed.

Asked whether Jamaat would form an alliance with the BNP again, Shafiqur said many things can happen “for the needs of the country”.

TALKS WITH KHALEDA

Shafiqur along with Jamaat leader Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher visited the house of BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman in London on Apr 13. Tarique's mother, Khaleda Zia, has been there for the past three and a half months.

Recounting the meeting, Shafiqur said: “They received us with great love and respect. Our main goal was to meet her (Khaleda), but she is staying at the house of her eldest son, the acting chairman of the party, so he would naturally also be there…”

Implying that discussions naturally drifted towards politics, Shafiqur said: “When two Bangladeshi who are strangers sit to have tea, they’ll start talking about politics. And we, the dutiful leaders of two parties, sat together without talking politics. Is that realistic? It is not...

“We did not, however, talk about any specific issue. We had general discussions on different issues, like when and how the elections would be held and whether the (Awami League) trial process would be held or not. There was no decisive discussion.”

On whether the Jamaat were in dispute with the BNP, he said: "We want differences among [political parties]. Otherwise, politicians will become blind. Differences are needed to open closed eyes. But we also expect that this should not turn into a dispute, rather it should simply remain as differences.

"Unfortunately, our politicians, or even us, often do not pay attention to this. We have to arrive at a ground of love and mutual respect, if we love the country,” he added.

“I will express my opinion, but I cannot say that this is what has to be done… I’ll say that I think doing this will benefit my country and nation. And 'I will not let this happen' - whatever it is you want - this is not the language of politics and democracy."

This was the first meeting between Shafiqur and Khaleda.

He said, "The main goal of our visit was to see a respected ailing colleague; it was a moral duty on our part. We fulfilled that only, nothing more."