Leader of the Opposition and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman has said the prime minister may visit any country, including neighbouring India, but such visits should be based on equality, mutual respect and friendship.

“The people of this country will no longer accept anyone’s hegemony. They want relations with India based on friendship, mutual respect and equality,” he said while addressing a conference of Rajshahi city Jamaat-e-Islami members (Rukn) at the district council auditorium this afternoon, according to a press release from the party’s central publicity department.

Shafiqur Rahman said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is both the head of government and the head of his party, and can crack down on extortion, corruption and bribery currently prevalent in the country if he wants to.

“If he wants, these practices will stop. The key question is whether he wants to,” he said.

Addressing party leaders and activists, the Jamaat chief said Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami is regarded by many as an ideological organisation. He said the party has long worked to promote the message of Islam and build an ideal society and state, with the aim of earning and retaining public trust.

He instructed party leaders and activists to stand by the people and work to ensure their right to vote in the upcoming local government elections. Jamaat activists, he said, must play a vocal role to ensure that no one can snatch away people’s votes.

The conference was chaired by Rajshahi city unit chief Maulana Keramat Ali and moderated by its secretary, Imadz Uddin Mondal. The party’s Nayeb-e-Ameer Mujibur Rahman attended as a special guest.