Staff Reporter :The BNP denied pressure from international arena or any other particular quarter to cut ties with the Jamaat-e-Islami. The party, however, said that it is not a Jamaat-based party. BNP’s International Affairs Secretary and the party’s current spokesman Dr Asaduzzaman Ripon said this in a press briefing at the party’s Nayapaltan central office in the city on Saturday. Dr Ripon made the comment in view of the statement of former President and Bikalpadhara Bangladesh Chief Dr AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury, who suggested the BNP to severe relation with Jamaat-e-Islami for survival.Badruddoza Chowdhury at a function in city on Friday said, “BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia is now under pressure from all quarters since her party has become Jamaat-based party”. “It was Badruddoza Chowdhury’s personal matter. BNP upholds the spirit and philosophy of Ziaur Rahman. The party did not sink into Jamaat-e-Islami. BNP’s relation with Jamaat-e-Islami is strategic, not ideological. The 20-party alliance was formed to save democracy. So, the BNP’s relation with that party aims at protecting democratic values and for the street movement, said Dr Ripon. Jamaat-e-Islami also reacted to the suggestion of Badruddoza Chowdhury. The party’s Central Executive Committee member Hamidur Rahman Azad in a statement protested the statement of Badruddoza Chowdhury. “Whose agenda does Badruddoza Chowdhury serve? We strongly condemn such insensible address. The 20-party alliance was formed to restore democracy and to secure the voting rights of the people. Jamaat-e-Islami is a major partner of the alliance. The question of dependency of a party upon another partner is totally impractical,” said the Jamaat leader.
