Don't support those who use religion in politics: Fakhrul

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has urged voters not to support those who use religion in politics, report agencies.
He is contesting the Thakurgaon-1 constituency in the 13th Jatiya Sangsad parliamentary election,
Fakhrul made the comment while speaking at an election rally at Akcha union in Sadar upazila on Thakurgaon district on Saturday afternoon.
"A group is trying to mislead my Muslim brothers by claiming that voting for the 'weighing scale' [Jamaat-e-Islami's election] symbol will lead them to heaven. There is no such teaching anywhere in Islam," he said.
"Those who follow Allah's orders can go to heaven; no one else can. Those who say otherwise are not telling the truth," said Fakhrul.
"Today we are happy that Hindus and Muslims are thinking alike. We will not support those who engage in politics based on religion," he said.
Fakhrul said Jamaat cannot be trusted, recalling that during the 1971 Liberation War, the party supported Pakistan. He added that Jamaat has never apologised and cannot be relied upon.
Addressing the Hindu community, he assured: "Do not be afraid -- vote and live without fear. I stand with you."
Fakhrul urged voters to choose the Sheaf of Paddy symbol on February 12.
He said he spent 15 years fighting for citizens' voting rights, faced 117 cases, and served over three years in jail but has no regrets.
"Having the chance to vote and improve the country is our joy," he said.
He urged voters to take the right decision and cast their votes responsibly, saying the country's future lies in their hands.
"Voters are the real owners of the country and there is no scope for making mistakes," he said.
Those who want to do good work should be made victorious and BNP's biggest goal is to restore peace in the country, he said.
Fakhrul said BNP does politics for the welfare of people and establishing lasting peace in the country. "We do politics to build roads where there are none, to establish schools and colleges where there are none and to build hospitals where there are none."
He claimed that people did not live in peace during the previous government's tenure, alleging that 70 cases were filed in Thakurgaon alone with around 7,000 accused.