Charmonai Pir and Islami Andolan Bangladesh (IAB) Ameer Syed Muhammad Rezaul Karim yesterday said they had sought to build unity in favour of Islamist values with great hope, but were compelled to take a separate political path in the interest of Islam after observing that Jamaat-e-Islami was deviating from its commitment to Islamist principles and ideology.

“However, by the grace of Allah, we are not alone. People from all walks of life and the alem-ulemas are with us,” he said at an election rally held in support of IAB candidates in Mymensingh-6 and Mymensingh-4 constituencies in Mymensingh city.

Rezaul added that BNP and Jamaat governed the country in the past but failed to meet the people’s expectations. “Instead, the country became a champion in corruption.”

“If, by the grace of Allah, the people entrust us with the responsibility of running the state, corruption will be uprooted, In sha Allah. We will build a Bangladesh that reflects the people’s aspirations,” he said.

Rezaul said many candidates make various promises of development, but no one speaks about the “development of principles”.

“If members of the parliament formulate proper policies and hold the executive accountable for implementing those policies, development will naturally reach all citizens of the country,” he said.

He said the nation has heard many claims of development over the past 54 years, but those so-called developments were followed by a “festival of corruption”.

“Killings, enforced disappearances, and money laundering have been pushing the country backwards. Therefore, emphasis must be placed on the structural development of the state and improvement of policies,” he added.

He added that Islami Andolan Bangladesh is working not merely for a change of leaders, but for a change of policies.

Party’s Central Training Secretary Nurul Karim Akram and Central Joint Vice-President Hossain Ahmed, among others, were present at the rally.