Those accused of genocide and oppression will not be allowed back into politics, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed says in Fatikchhari

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed has commented that the people of this country will not give the Awami League — accused of authoritarianism, fascism and genocide — any further opportunity to do politics. He made the remark on Friday (6 November) at noon while speaking as chief guest on the closing day of the 104th annual mahfil of Babunagar Madrasa in Fatikchhari, Chattogram.

The home minister said that a political party whose members killed ordinary people, carried out barbaric genocide and oppression, and afterwards expressed no apology or remorse for it, will not be allowed to do politics in this country again.

Describing the past decade and a half of rule and the recent mass uprising, he said that according to United Nations statistics, at least 1,400 people were martyred in the July-August student-people's mass uprising. Before that, in the past 16-17 years, about 3,000 people were victims of enforced disappearance and about 7,000 people were killed and tortured in various ways, he noted.

Mentioning that he himself had been a victim of enforced disappearance for a long time, Salahuddin Ahmed said he had survived and returned by the grace of Almighty Allah and the prayers of ordinary people. Saying that millions of people in the country had been crushed by false cases and attacks, he asked who was preparing the ground for the return of that defeated fascist force.

He alleged that the same fascist force was also behind the recent attempts to create unrest in the ready-made garment sector.

In his speech, the home minister strongly criticised some quarters that do politics using the name of Islam. He claimed that although some groups speak of Islam, the fundamental Islamic principle of 'Aqeemuddin' has been dropped from their party manifesto and they have clearly opposed Sharia-based law.

Referring to his own political philosophy, he said that inspired by the ideals of martyred President Ziaur Rahman, 'Bismillah' was added to the constitution and a politics of religious values was established. He reiterated his position in favour of building a society without division by creating a united national identity with people of all religions.

Recalling the contribution of alems and ulema during the days of the movement, the home minister said that despite being a non-political organisation, Hefazat-e-Islam, under the leadership of its amir Allama Shah Muhibbullah Babunagari, had built strong resistance against the Islam-hating and fascist government.

Also present at the mahfil, presided over by Babunagar Madrasa director Allama Shah Muhibbullah Babunagari, were State Minister for Religious Affairs Shamim Kayser Lincoln, members of parliament Sarwar Alamgir, Gias Uddin Quader Chowdhury and Humam Quader Chowdhury, Chattogram deputy commissioner Zahidul Islam Mia, district superintendent of police Masud Alam, and leading alems and ulema of the country.