Leader of the Opposition and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman today accused the government of abandoning its promises to the people and following the path of fascism, warning that failure to resolve political disputes in parliament could push the opposition back on the streets.

"We do not want to see the government as deceptive; we want it to honour the commitments it made to the people," he said while speaking at a discussion organised by the Bangladesh Labour Party at the National Press Club in Dhaka to mark the second anniversary of the July mass uprising.

"If parliament fails to resolve the issues, the streets will be our destination," he added.

Claiming that the ruling party was repeating the practices of the previous regime, he said, "Whatever the fascists did in the past, we are seeing an exact copy of that in you. Just as they resorted to conspiracies, propaganda and force to suppress dissent, you have already adopted all those methods."

He questioned why a party that had itself suffered repression for years was now "embracing the character of a fascist government".

The Jamaat chief also criticised the "politicisation of state institutions", alleging that partisan figures were being appointed to key positions.

Shafiqur warned against "opportunists" surrounding the government.

"Remember, if you nurture a cobra with milk, one day its bite may cost you your life. These people belong to no one. They destroy society and ultimately destroy themselves," he said.

Calling for tolerance of criticism, he added, "A person and his responsibilities are not the same. Those in office will face criticism, and if they want to remain in office, they must learn to tolerate it."

Presiding over the programme, Bangladesh Labour Party Chairman Mostafizur Rahman Iran said the spirit of the 1971 Liberation War and the July 2024 Uprising was the same, as both movements were fought against discrimination. He demanded the implementation of the July National Charter and the referendum verdict.

Speaking as the keynote speaker, LDP President Col (retd) Oli Ahmad alleged that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman was "surrounded by enemies" and urged him to fulfil the aspirations of the people instead of listening to "foreign agents".

National Citizen Party Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwary, meanwhile, alleged that the government had already failed, citing power and fuel shortages, problems in the banking sector and growing political violence.

"We were promised that not only the faces of fascism but the entire system would change. That did not happen," he said.