If you vote, you will go to heaven! Jamaat's vote trading in the name of religion: Rizvi

BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi has strongly attacked Jamaat-e-Islami, saying that if you vote, you will go to heaven—such propaganda is a religious fraud on the people. He said, "Some misguided people are trying to mislead our society in the name of Islam. These things are being said to achieve political interests by distorting religious values."

At a discussion organized on the occasion of the founding anniversary of the Nationalist Ulema Party at the National Press Club on Tuesday (October 14), Rizvi said, "Is Jamaat-e-Islami selling tickets to heaven like medieval Christian priests? They are going door to door saying that if you vote on a scale, you will go to heaven—this is a complete religious fraud."

He also said, "Using religion outside the basic principles of Islam to gain political gain is very dangerous. Islam does not support such hypocrisy in any way."

Rizvi alleged that Jamaat is using digital technology to spread misleading propaganda. “They have formed an army of some youths to spread lies, insults and malicious talk on social media. They are constantly spreading lies.”

He also said, “Those who are talking about a referendum in November have a master plan. They are misleading with conditions, the aim is to delay the national elections.”

Rizvi alleged that Jamaat still wants to remain under the umbrella of the Awami League and is trying to strategically attract their votes. “On the one hand, it is creating controversy over PR (proportional representation), reforms, referendum, and on the other hand, it is misleading people with religious emotions.”

He said, “There is an attempt to spread misleading ideology in Bangladesh in the name of a new Islamic trend, which can be identified as ‘Mawdudiism’. It has no place in our faith, creed and belief in monotheism.”

Rizvi further asked, “Those who committed the horrific events of 1971 were also Muslims. But how can a Muslim commit such atrocities on another Muslim? Are those who have sponsored or are committing these crimes good people?” He said that Islam does not support spreading confusion in the name of religion and taking any path for power.

The meeting was presided over by Nationalist Ulama Dal Senior Joint Convener Alhaj Maulana Md. Alamgir Hossain. BNP Joint Secretary General Khairul Kabir Khokon, Religious Affairs Secretary Rafiqul Islam Jamal, Joint Religious Affairs Secretary ATM Abdul Bari Danny and Executive Committee Member Maulana Shah Md. Nesarul Haque, among others, also spoke at the event.