Euro MP Tannock asks BNP to sever ties with Jamaat-e-Islami as he says Bangladesh’s values are threatened by Islamic extremists.

 

Charles Tannock made this push while addressing in a debate of the European Parliament on Tuesday.

 

Terming Bangladesh a ‘political model’ of secular South Asian democracy, Tannock said Bangladesh is championing of religious tolerance, freedom of expression, women’s rights and education, are values that we would recognise and celebrate in Europe. Such values are, however, threatened in Bangladesh right now – but not by the government but by Islamist extremists.

 

“Bangladesh is a secular South Asian democracy and it is a political model that I strongly support. Its championing of religious tolerance, freedom of expression, women’s rights and education, are values that we would recognise and celebrate here in Europe. Such values are, however, threatened in Bangladesh right now – but not by the government, as some in this Chamber will seek to argue this evening, but by Islamist extremists,” he said in his speech.

 

Tannock said Jamaat-e-Islami was banned in Bangladesh in 1971 not only for the atrocities committed during the civil war, but also for its continued ideological campaign and terrorist activities against the secular state.

 

But at present Jamaat continues along this path, with reported links to extremist jihadist groups since the lifting of this ban in 1979.

 

He urged BNP to end and denounce its links with them (Jamaat) so that it can fulfil its proper secular democratic role in opposition.

 

“Only today was the body of a Hindu priest found near to his temple, the killing clearly motivated by his religion. He joins the many others that have been murdered in similar attacks: academics, gay rights activists, secular bloggers and journalists, as well as other individuals from religious minorities such as Christian, Buddhist or Ahmadi,” he said.

 

He urged EP members to offer more support and sympathy to Bangladesh’s Government and less words of criticism and condemnation.