Tarique says Awami League, Jamaat-e-Islami have again joined forces

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Old political alignments are back in Tarique Rahman’s sights, with the prime minister suggesting the ousted Awami League and Jamaat-e-Islami have once again “come together”.

He pointed to their past periods of cooperation and urged people to remain alert to what he described as “authoritarian” and “secretive” politics.

Tarique made the remarks at an event in Feni’s Fulgazi on Thursday, where Family Cards, Farmer Cards and honorariums for religious leaders were distributed.

“We have seen what happened a few days after the ‘authoritarian’ regime fled. The people of this ‘secret force’ said they had no objection if they came, stayed, worked and did politics. Why would they object?

“They have always been together. They were together in 1991 and 1986. They were together during the last election too; they worked behind the scenes. That is why they are called secretive. Today, they and those who fled, this authoritarian and secretive force, have come together again.”

Tarique urged people to be wary of those who, he said, had no programmes to change people’s fortunes and pursued politics solely to gain power.

“If they had any programme for the people, they could have said what they would do. To this day, they have not presented any programme that benefits the people,” he said.

He said Bangladesh’s democracy had repeatedly come under threat but had been defended through popular movements, including the 2024 uprising.

Tarique said his government was working to fulfil its promises and called for continued vigilance to keep the country’s democratic process on track.

At the event, he distributed Family Cards among women, Farmer Cards among farmers, honorariums to Imams, Muezzins and religious figures, and financial assistance to people in need.

Earlier, he inaugurated a tree-planting programme at Khaleda Zia Women’s College in Fulgazi and distributed sports equipment to students.

He also inaugurated the supply of electricity from a rooftop solar project at Sonagazi Dak Bungalow to the national grid.