Jamaat’s threat part of plan to create chaos: Rizvi

BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi yesterday said Jamaat-e-Islami's threat to launch a strong movement if their demand for proportional representation (PR) is not met is part of a plan to harm the nation by creating a disastrous situation.

"An Islamic party [Jamaat] has said in a press conference that it will launch a vigorous movement if their demand for proportional representation is not met. This, we believe, is a well-planned master plan that will benefit no one," he said.

Rizvi made the remarks after meeting cancer-affected Hefazat-e-Islam leader Maulana Enamul Hasan Faruqi and providing him with financial assistance at Jamia Madania Madrasa in Baridhara, Dhaka.

Over the past 16–17 years, BNP and many other political parties, including all Islamic parties, fought for democracy, but they didn't raise the issue of PR system at that time, said Rizvi.

The BNP leader questioned the motive behind Jamaat and other Islamist parties' sudden insistence on holding elections under the PR system, warning that it could mislead people.

He said if local people are unfamiliar with their representatives in advance, confusion will arise, and voters may not be able to decide whom to support.

Rizvi argued that bringing this issue so prominently into the spotlight appears to be part of an evil plan. "This will bring no benefit to anyone."