BNP Standing Committee member Mirza Abbas on Sunday warned that attempts are being made to create division in the country and urged Islamic scholars [ulama- mashayekh] to remain vigilant.
"A new slogan has emerged recently. I will not criticise it, but I urge you to be cautious about those two slogans," he said during a brief speech at an Iftar event with orphans and Islamic ulama’s.
He said, "I read in the newspaper this morning… I still don’t understand what 'Second Independence' or 'Second Republic' means. I don't know if you have understood it. It seems that a particular pretext is being used to create division among the people. Please be aware of this."
The Iftar event, organised by BNP at Eskaton, Dhaka on the first day of Ramadan, was attended by BNP leaders, including Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain and other standing committee members, while the party’s Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman joined virtually from London.
Mirza Abbas further alleged that some people who dress like Islamic scholars are pushing this agenda.
"I request you to handle this situation carefully. Inshallah, under the leadership of Tarique Rahman, we will take Bangladesh forward together, united," he added.
Congratulating the attendees, he said, "Some people, both from abroad and within the country, are trying to create a rift between BNP and the Islamic scholars. I just want to remind you that this division is not between BNP and the Islamic scholars."
He warned that such divisions could create cracks through which foreign powers might intervene and attempt to destroy the country.
Hundreds of students from Farmgate Islamia Mission Madrasa and Shantinagar Bazar Jatiya Muslim Madrasa participated in the event.
Among the Islamic scholars present were Subhanbagh Jame Mosque Khatib Maulana Wali Ullah, Dhaka Residential Model College Mosque Khatib Mufti Mohiuddin, National Imam Association President Maulana Kazi Abu Huraira, and Mireswarai Darbar Sharif Pir Maulana Abdul Momen Nasser.
BNP Standing Committee members Jamir Uddin Sarkar, Mirza Abbas, Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, and Salah Uddin Ahmed were also in attendance. Additionally, BNP’s Religious Affairs Secretary Rafiqul Islam Jamal, Assistant Religious Affairs Secretary Abdul Bari Danny, Nationalist Ulema Dal Convener Kazi Md. Selim Reza, and Member Secretary Kazi Mohammad Abul Hossain were present.
