Mamunul Haque
Whoever comes to power wants to become Hasina
Khelafat Majlis Ameer Maulana Mamunul Haque speaks at the event
Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis Ameer Maulana Mamunul Haque has said that unless the country’s existing political and power structure is changed, there is a risk that whichever party comes to power in the future will eventually turn authoritarian.
He made the remarks as the chief guest at a citizens’ rally held at the Shariatpur Municipality ground at 3 pm on Thursday.
Mamunul Haque said, ‘Under the current political system, if you go to Lanka, you will become Hanuman. Whoever comes to power wants to become Hasina. Whoever comes to power will become Hasina after five or 10 years. So merely changing the government will not be enough. Structural changes must be made to the way the state is governed.’
The citizens’ rally was organized to demand implementation of the referendum verdict and to protest ‘the increase in the prices of oil, gas and electricity and the deterioration of the law-and-order situation.’
Regarding the powers of the president, Mamunul Haque said, ‘The office of the president has now become largely ceremonial. In line with the spirit of the July Revolution, some practical administrative powers need to be restored to the president.’
Emphasizing the independence of the judiciary, he said, ‘To free the judiciary from the prime minister’s unilateral authority, an independent judicial commission led by the chief justice needs to be formed. Through this, it will be possible to establish a judiciary free from partisan influence.’
He further said, ‘A system must be established so that no judge with a partisan identity can play with the fate of the people. Justice cannot be ensured in the country without freeing the judiciary from political influence.’
Calling for implementation of the referendum verdict, Mamunul Haque said, ‘If all political parties move away from this demand, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis will, if necessary, go to the people alone and demand implementation of the referendum verdict.’
Emphasizing the implementation of the July Charter, he said, ‘If the July Charter is not implemented, fascism will once again get an opportunity to return. To protect the independence and sovereignty achieved through bloodshed, we must be prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice if necessary.’
The Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis Ameer also said that no form of hegemonism would be accepted in protecting the country’s independence, sovereignty and the rights of the people.
The rally was chaired by Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis Shariatpur district unit President Maulana Shabbir Ahmed Osmani. Central Secretary General Maulana Jalaluddin Ahmad, Mymensingh 2 MP Mufti Muhammadullah, Madaripur 2 MP Saeed Uddin Ahmad Hanzala, Central Organizing Secretary Azizur Rahman Helal and Central Executive Member Noor Hossain Noorani, along with leaders from different levels of the party, also spoke at the event.
