Liton Mahmud, Joint Convener of Dhaka South BNP, has described Jamaat-e-Islami as a self-serving, opportunistic, and contradictory political party. He made the remarks in a recent televised interview with a channel based in Banglamotor, Dhaka.
Liton Mahmud said Jamaat opposed the 1947 partition of India and Pakistan, and later opposed Bangladesh’s Liberation War in 1971 by siding with Pakistan. He recalled that after Sheikh Hasina fled the country in the face of the student-led July uprising, Jamaat’s Amir publicly declared forgiveness for the Awami League in a party rally, despite the fact that Awami League had ruled for 16 years with what he described as “authoritarian policies.”
He alleged that during that period, Awami League oversaw extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, widespread repression, and turned state institutions into partisan tools. Yet Jamaat “forgave” them, he said, showing that the party always chooses the wrong direction.
When asked about current differences between BNP and Jamaat, Liton Mahmud said Jamaat had long stood with BNP in movements against what he called Sheikh Hasina’s fascist rule. However, he emphasized that Jamaat’s opportunistic political history explains today’s disagreements. He noted Jamaat’s participation in the 1986 election under Ershad, which BNP and Awami League initially boycotted. “If Jamaat and Awami League had not joined that election, Ershad would have fallen then, instead of 1990,” he remarked.
According to him, Jamaat has no consistent ideology. “Sometimes they ally with BNP, sometimes with Awami League, and sometimes with Jatiya Party. They shift like consonants in the alphabet—changing sound depending on the context,” he said.
He also pointed out that Jamaat had previously joined governments led by BNP, receiving ministerial positions, which often drew criticism from civil society and international observers. “BNP is a pro-democracy party working for the people, but Jamaat is dependent and opportunistic,” he said.
Addressing Jamaat’s recent demand for a Proportional Representation (PR) system in elections, Liton Mahmud strongly opposed the idea. He argued that PR is not mentioned in the constitution or the Election Commission’s legal framework, and the Bangladeshi people are unfamiliar with it. “This is an artificial crisis Jamaat is trying to create. In PR, a voter in Dhaka-10 could end up electing a candidate in Panchagarh. Such a bizarre system goes against the people’s will—and even Islam does not endorse it,” he added.
Mahmud stressed that Bangladeshis are looking forward to a free, fair, and transparent election in February 2026. He said young voters—many of whom were unable to vote during the last 16 years—are determined to exercise their democratic rights this time. “It is the youth who will shape the new Bangladesh,” he said.
He dismissed any concerns of election delay, citing Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus’s assurance that the polls will be held in February 2026 as scheduled. He also claimed Jamaat has already selected 300 candidates and prepared a 41-point election manifesto, along with forming alliances with other Islamist parties.
On the upcoming Durga Puja, Liton Mahmud extended greetings to the Hindu community and alleged that under Sheikh Hasina’s rule, attacks on minority festivals were politically motivated to discredit BNP. He claimed Awami League used communal tensions as a tool to repress opposition activists. However, he noted that under Tarique Rahman’s directives, BNP and its affiliated organizations have been cooperating with Puja committees since last year to ensure peaceful celebrations.
“I believe this year the Hindu community will be able to celebrate Durga Puja smoothly and without fear,” he concluded.