Leader of the Opposition in Parliament and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman on Sunday accused the BNP of resorting to the same authoritarian practices that opposition parties had faced during the fascist Awami League regime, urging the party to respect the people's mandate and democratic values.

Addressing a discussion, titled “Jan Debo, July Debo Na”, organised by the Bangladesh Labour Party at the Jatiya Press Club, he said both Jamaat and BNP had endured over 17 years of repression before the political change brought by the July movement, UNB reports. 

“After the bloodstained movement that brought change, we are now seeing a photocopy of what the fascists used to do,” Shafiqur said, alleging that BNP has embraced the same “tactics of suppressing dissent through propaganda, conspiracy and the use of force.”

He also questioned BNP's stance on the referendum, further alleging that the party is ignoring the will of the people despite previously supporting the process.

The Jamaat chief said Bangladesh's Liberation War in 1971 was against discrimination and the denial of people's voting rights, warning that repeating such mistakes will have serious consequences.

He criticised what he described as increasing politicisation in public administration and alleged partisan appointments to key government positions.

Shafiqur also called for a non-partisan election-time administration to ensure credible polls and urged the government to hold elections that genuinely reflect the people's mandate.

He further alleged that opposition activists are facing politically motivated cases and criticised incidents of violence against protesters, saying such actions contradict the aspirations of the July movement.

Among others, National Citizen Party (NCP) Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwary, Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) President Col (retd) Oli Ahmad and Labour Party Chairman Mostafizur Rahman Iran addressed the programme.