Information Adviser Mahfuj Alam has warned that Bangladesh is heading toward conflict within the next few months, saying 'everyone is waiting for it to happen', reports bdnews24.com.
Speaking at a national dialogue in the capital on Saturday, Mahfuj cautioned that if a 'religious dimension' becomes attached to the looming conflict, the country's situation could deteriorate further.
"Everyone has the right to take an ideological stance," he said. "But when that right is infringed upon by others, conflict becomes inevitable. Therefore, we must call for unity before it happens."
Referring to the current political climate, he said many are holding back from confrontation because of Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus's "position".
Mahfuj said he had heard that the Awami League was trying to exploit religious sentiment by spreading claims that the Yunus government is demolishing shrines and removing people from mosques."
"This is not an issue of the interim government. It's been happening for 50 years -- whenever the government changes, mosque committees and the Islamic Foundation's governing bodies are replaced," he added.
He urged continued dialogue among all religious and ideological groups, warning thatthe absence of such discussion "will not benefit the state".
"Although the political 'fascism' was overthrown in the July Uprising, social 'fascism' still persists," Mahfuj said.
"We now have to confront both social and cultural 'fascism'."
The advisor accused some political parties of aligning with forces that distort Islamic traditions.
"Those who practise politics in the name of Islam have ignored the thousand-year history and heritage of Islam," he said. "If we don't confront the project to remove religion from state and political discourse, this crisis won't end soon.
