Tarique has reaffirmed that the BNP will not waver on the fundamental principles of Islam

BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman on Sunday reaffirmed that the party has never compromised — and will never compromise — on the core principles of Islam.

“BNP has never compromised on the core principles or fundamental beliefs of Islam, and we will not do so in the future, Insha’Allah,” he said.

Tarique made the remarks while addressing the National Conference of the Sammilito Imam-Khatib Parishad at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre, where he spoke as the chief guest.

He said BNP has consistently upheld Islamic values and spoken out against any activities that undermine the interests of Islam and the Muslim community.

“The failed, defeated, and fugitive autocracy sought to weaken Islam, Muslims, and Islamic culture in various ways within the state and society,” he alleged.

Tarique highlighted that the move to grant Master’s degree equivalence to the highest Qawmi Madrasa qualification (Dawra-e-Hadith or Takmil certificate) was initiated in 2006 under the government of Begum Khaleda Zia, recognising the importance of formal certification for employment.

Pointing to the vast network of religious institutions in the country, he noted that Bangladesh now has more than 5,000 madrasas of various categories—Qawmi, Alia, public, private, registered, and unregistered—serving millions of students.

He added that the country has roughly 3.5 lakh mosques, both public and private, employing around 17 lakh imams, khatibs, and muazzins.

Tarique argued that sustainable development is impossible if millions of mosques, madrasas, imams, muazzins, and madrasa students remain excluded from the state's development-oriented initiatives. He said BNP has incorporated specific action plans addressing this reality into its future programmes.

Criticising how the Constitution was drafted in the early years after independence, he said “the party of the failed, defeated, and fugitive autocrat that assumed state power after independence crafted the Constitution according to its own wishes, without reflecting the aspirations of the majority at the time.”

He recalled that BNP founder and “Proclaimer of Independence” President Ziaur Rahman introduced “Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim” into the Constitution and enshrined the principle of “absolute trust and faith in Almighty Allah,” a clause that was later removed.

Tarique described the demands raised by imams and khatibs—such as establishing formal service rules for imams, khatibs, and muazzins—as fully justified.

“There is scope to address several of your demands on a priority basis,” he said.

He added that the employment of imams and muazzins should not depend on the whims of mosque committees. If BNP returns to government, he pledged, it will prioritise the formulation of Service Rules and take effective steps to meet other demands.

He also stressed that the state has a responsibility to support imams, khatibs, and muazzins, who play a vital role as social reformers. BNP plans to provide monthly honorariums to imams and muazzins facing financial difficulties, he added.