“There is a proverb in Bangladesh: ‘Whoever goes to Lanka becomes Hanuman.’ Likewise, whoever comes to power wants to become Hasina,” said Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis Ameer Mamunul Haque.

“Once anyone comes to power, the desire to become Hasina awakens in them. And when they are out of power, they try to present themselves as revolutionaries,” he said.

Mamunul made the remarks as chief guest at a rally organised by the Shariatpur district unit of Khelafat Majlis in front of the Shariatpur Sadar municipality auditorium on Thursday evening.

He further said all powers were concentrated in the hands of the prime minister, while the president had no real authority and was merely a puppet. “The chief justice is no exception,” he added.

“All the powers of Bangladesh have been thrown at the feet of the prime minister. If such power is given even to a wooden puppet, the puppet too would become a Hasina after two years. And that is why whoever goes to the seat of power in Bangladesh becomes Hasina,” he added.

Mamunul further said, “We do not want Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman’s son [Tarique Rahman] to become Sheikh Hasina. That is why we say reform the constitution.”

“Today, due to the lack of these reforms, there is politicisation, corruption and mismanagement in the country. As a result, the entire country’s administration has descended into chaos, including shortages of oil, gas, electricity and fertiliser,” he added.

“It was a commitment of BNP that no law contrary to the Quran and Sunnah would be enacted in the ‘new Bangladesh’. But after coming to power, they have broken that commitment. The law on property transfer that you [the government] have made against the Quran and Sunnah has been rejected by the country’s scholars,” Mamunul said.

“In sha Allah, we will not allow any law contrary to the Quran and Sunnah to be implemented in Bangladesh,” he added.

Madaripur-1 MP Sayed Uddin Ahmad Hanzala and Mymensingh-2 MP Maulana Mufti Muhammadullah were present at the rally.