File photo of BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir Mahmud Hossain Opu/Dhaka tribune

During an exclusive interview with the Indian Express, BNP’s secretary general termed his party’s partnership with the controversial Islamist party as a “strategic tie up”

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has confirmed that controversial Islamist political party, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami , will not be part if BNP forms any government after the election.

In an exclusive interview with the Indian Express, he also described his party’s relationship with Jamaat as a “strategic tie up.”

The BNP stitched up an alliance with Jamaat Islami in 2001 and was in office for the term that ended in 2006.

The party lost its registration with the Election Commission after a court’s order in 2013 but found its way to the 11th general election, backed by the BNP.

“With them, we have an advantage in 50 seats where the margin is thin and the fight is tough. Without us, they are reduced to just three seats,” he said.

Asked whether Jamaat will be part of a future government, Fakhrul replied: “No way.”

“When we are questioned about Jamaat, I tell you, See BNP is not Jamaat. BNP doesn’t believe in sharia laws, it doesn’t believe in fundamentalism. We have no fascination for Jamaat,” he said during the interview.

BJP ‘chickened out’ from a meeting with BNP

Fakhrul revealed that India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) General Secretary Ram Madhav backed out from a possible meeting with BNP in Bangkok.

Fakhrul said: “We tried to set up a meeting with Ram Madhav in Bangkok in August this year, but the Indian side chickened out.”

“We tried to meet Indian leaders outside the country. We sought an appointment with the Indian high commissioner, sought and met three times, it’s not the other way around.”

Fakhrul claims Indian diplomats are not keen to meet and engage with BNP leaders since they don’t want to upset the incumbent government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

“We seek friendship with India. And contrary to the perception in India, we don’t believe in communalism, fundamentalism,” he said. “That’s a totally false perception that we are anti-India, this is part of Awami League’s concerted propaganda.”

Fakhrul said during the interview that his party has been reaching out to India, referring to BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s 2012 Delhi visit.

“We thought with BJP in power in 2014, things would improve. She had a very good meeting with Modi, but nothing happened after that. There was no follow up.”