Jamaat leader calls for governance based on Islamic law

Jamaat-e-Islami Senior Nayeb-e-Ameer Professor Mujibur Rahman said on Thursday that state authority belongs solely to Allah and that Bangladesh must move away from "man-made ideologies" to establish peace and justice.

He made the remarks while addressing an eight-party divisional assembly at the Circuit House grounds in Mymensingh. The event was presided over by Islami Andolon Bangladesh Presidium Member Professor Ashraf Ali Akhon and conducted by Mymensingh District Jamaat Secretary Maulana Mozammel Haque Akand.

Professor Mujibur Rahman criticised secularism and nationalism, saying these ideologies have guided Bangladesh for 54 years but "failed to bring happiness to the people." He added, "The sufferings and hardships of the people have not decreased. We want to change the fate of the people of Bangladesh. From now on, the National Parliament, the Secretariat, and all educational institutions must be governed by the laws of Allah. No law that contradicts Islam will be permitted." He urged supporters to vote in favour of Islamic principles. "Allah has given us two hands - will we cast our vote for man-made laws or for Allah's law?" he asked, adding that the alliance of eight Islamic-leaning parties is committed to establishing Islamic legal frameworks in the country.
Addressing the political landscape, he said nearly 90 per cent of Bangladesh's 180 million people are Muslims and called for organising them under a united platform. He invited the BNP to join the alliance, saying, "You too believe in one God and in the Qur'an. It pains us when you say you do not believe in Shariah law. This is not a mistake - it is said knowingly, and it shows your understanding is not yet complete." He added that the pursuit of peace over the past decades has not been successful, asserting that true peace can only be achieved "when people fully obey the laws of Allah."

The assembly, organised by the eight-party coalition, pressed for the implementation of its five-point demand, including creating a level playing field before the upcoming elections, ensuring justice for those accused in the July violence, and holding a referendum before the national polls.