Jamaat Destroyed Unity of Islamic Parties, Alleges Pir Saheb Charmonai

The chance to build unity among Islamic parties was destroyed by Jamaat-e-Islami's lust for power, alleged Mufti Syed Muhammad Rezaul Karim (Pir Saheb Charmonai), amir of Islami Andolan Bangladesh.

He made the remarks as chief guest at an event organised for the 'Seerat Researcher Reception 2026' at the Institute of Diploma Engineers auditorium in Kakrail, Dhaka, on Saturday (November 7).

Pir Saheb Charmonai said a sincere initiative had been taken to bring Islamic parties — especially those of the Qawmi tradition — onto one platform, with the aim of implementing Islamic principles and ideals at the state level. Jamaat-e-Islami and several other parties were also part of that initiative.

Sharply criticising Jamaat's position, he said that once Jamaat realised an environment had been created for it to come to power alone, it sacrificed the interests of the country, the people and Islam at large, destroying the fine atmosphere of unity among the Islamic parties.

He added that true peace, equality, human dignity and justice in the country can only be established if Islamic principles and ideals are implemented at the state level. Yet expecting peace through the same old principles and ideals under which the country has been run for the past 55 years is completely baseless and irrational, he said.

Addressing the distinguished guests and journalists present, Pir Saheb Charmonai reiterated that there is no alternative to implementing the great principles and ideals of Islam if the people of the country are to be given true freedom and peace.

Meanwhile, Nahid Islam, convener of the National Citizen Party (NCP) and chief whip of the opposition, said, 'There is no chance for "Apa" to return to the country in any December. Even if she comes, the gallows are ready for her.'

He said this on Saturday (November 7) afternoon at a freshers' reception and prize-giving ceremony for a competition titled 'Students' Thoughts on the July Mass Uprising', organised by Jatiya Chhatra Shakti at the Birshreshtha Shaheed Mohammad Ruhul Amin Auditorium of Noakhali Science and Technology University.

Nahid Islam said, 'The students and people of Bangladesh have not fallen asleep yet, nor have the universities. You must prove that. Do not agitate only demanding a Noakhali division. Think about the whole country, think about the whole world — that is what a university is.'

Urging university students to gain global knowledge and skills, he said a university student must know what is being thought and what is happening around the world, and must prepare himself for the global market.

On November 7, the NCP convener said, 'We hold November 7 dear. November 7 is a revolution, but is the July mass uprising not a revolution? The present government calls what suits it a revolution, and what does not suit it, or where it had no leadership, it calls merely a movement or a mass uprising.'

Raising the question of someone returning to the country next December, Nahid Islam said, 'Someone is reportedly wanting to come to the country next December — do you know? Are we prepared? Were we as prepared as we were during the July mass uprising? Will the resistance this time be greater than before, or less?'

Expressing anger at the lack of justice, he said, 'Last time we showed much generosity, we forgave. In the words of Osman Hadi, we said we would do justice even to our enemies. But in the past two years we have received no justice. We have not received justice for the murder of Osman Hadi, nor for the killing of our martyred brothers and sisters of July. When people do not get justice, they begin to build resistance themselves.'

Special guests at the event included NCP Senior Joint Member Secretary Sarjis Alam, Joint Convener and Member of Parliament Hannan Masud, and Joint Convener Nizam Uddin. Also present were Jatiya Chhatra Shakti central president Abu Baker Majumder, general secretary Tahmid Al Muddassir Chowdhury and other central leaders.

The National Citizen Party (NCP) has called for the formation of a constitution reform council in line with the referendum verdict. The party made the call in a statement on Saturday (November 7) afternoon. The statement said today is the historic November 7, the day of the historic Sepoy-People's uprising of 1975, and that on this day the party remembers Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman, the proclaimer of independence, paying deep respect to his memory.

The statement added that the BNP is trying to compress fundamental changes like the July Charter into the 18th amendment, which could face challenges in court or in a future parliament at any time. The party called on the BNP to respect the people's verdict in the referendum, take steps to implement it immediately, and form a constitution reform council accordingly.