Dhaka, Jan 31 (NationPress) With political tensions rising as Bangladesh approaches its February 12 elections, Islami Andolan Bangladesh (IAB) has expressed that neither the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) nor Jamaat-e-Islami can be trusted by the public. Both parties have been accused of failing to fulfill the aspirations of the populace during their time in power, according to reports from local media.

During a campaign rally at the Konabari College Field in the Gazipur district on Friday, IAB leader Syed Muhammad Rezaul Karim condemned the BNP-Jamaat alliance's governance from 2001 to 2006, claiming that Bangladesh was labeled as the world's most corrupt nation for five consecutive years during that period.

"The nation suffered from terrorism, and corruption infiltrated every sector of the state. The blame for the events of 1/11 in 2006 also falls on BNP and Jamaat. Their manipulation of the caretaker government system plunged the country into a prolonged crisis. Hence, there's no justification for trusting them again," Karim stated, as reported by The Daily Star.

He urged voters to support IAB's candidate, GM Ruhul Amin, who is running for the Gazipur-1 constituency in the upcoming elections.

"Voting for them will not alter the people's fate or bring about genuine development in the country," Karim emphasized, criticizing both BNP and Jamaat.

By appealing to voters on religious grounds and advocating for Shariah and Islam, Karim remarked, "In a nation where 90% of the population are Muslims, we are the only ones championing Shariah and Islam with the hand-fan (Hatpakha) symbol. I urge you to cast your vote in favor of Shariah and Islam. The choice is yours to make."

Earlier this month, tensions surfaced within the Jamaat-led coalition when IAB announced its decision to separate from the alliance, as reported by local media.

The IAB stated that it does not wish to engage in politics reliant on the favor of others, revealing plans to independently contest in 268 out of 300 constituencies in the forthcoming elections.

This announcement followed the Jamaat-led coalition's declaration of seat allocations for 253 constituencies ahead of the February elections, which was boycotted by IAB, one of its significant allies.

In a statement to the media from the party's central office in Purana Paltan, IAB spokesperson Gazi Ataur Rahman claimed that the party had been "deprived of justice" during the seat-sharing process and accused the alliance of straying from Islamic principles, as reported by The Daily Star.

As Bangladesh experiences escalating political disputes in the lead-up to the February 12 election, the parties that previously collaborated with the interim government’s Chief Advisor Mohammad Yunus to displace the democratically elected government led by Sheikh Hasina find themselves embroiled in a fierce power struggle for the upcoming election.