If needed, we will bend our fingers to get the butter: Taher

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s Naib-e-Ameer Dr Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher has said, “If ghee cannot be extracted with straight fingers, then we will bend them if necessary. We must get the ghee. If needed, we will again sacrifice our blood and our lives on the streets. We will not allow the spirit of July to be destroyed.”

He made the remarks on Thursday, November 6 around 12pm at a rally at Paltan intersection in the capital, before submitting a memorandum to the Chief Adviser on behalf of Jamaat and seven other parties, placing a five-point demand including the implementation of the National July Charter and holding a referendum in November.

Dr Taher said, “Some are questioning the cost of holding a referendum. We say, with the amount of extortion that happens in a single day in this country, a referendum could be held daily. The referendum must be held before the national election. We urge the government to stop extortion and arrange the referendum.”

He alleged, “The government is playing tricks regarding the referendum. But the people understand it well. No delay or deception will be tolerated in this regard.”

He further said, “In discussions among political parties, the government must play the role of referee. We have already formed a committee for dialogue among parties. I urge BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir to also take initiatives for dialogue.”