We want to establish Islam in democratic way: Nizami

"We're not in a haste to establish Islam...We're not in the government to establish Islam... We want to establish Islam with the support of all in a democratic way," said Nizami, also Industries Minister of the coalition government, during exchange of views with OCAB members at Hotel Purbani.

The meet with the journalists representing foreign media was organised by the Jamaat to make its politico-ideological position clear against the backdrop of the allegations, specially by a top leader of the West Bengal state of India.

Besides, the remarks of West Bengal Chief Minister Buddha Dev Bhattacharya in an interview with a Dhaka daily, also came into reference in a report published by the London-based Guardian that Jamaat leaders and workers went violent attacking members of the religious minorities.

In his interview, published on July 27, Basu was quoted as saying: "Jamaat attacks have always been dangerous. After election that has turned into barbaric."

And on July 21 the Guardian ran a report by John Vidal that said despite being involved in crimes, Jamaat men were not accused.

" These are all baseless and motivated campaigns... Even Jamaat's political enemy will not be able to prove that members of Hindu, Buddhist and Christian communities were tortured or repressed by any Jamaat leader or worker," Nizami said.

In reply to a question, Nizami said his party joined the government not for establishing Islam but to protect the country from political evil forces and conspiracies.

Asked about acceptance of women's leadership by Jamaat, he avoided a direct reply and said this question would come only when a complete Islamic system would be established in Bangladesh.

Asked about his party's stand on possible export of gas to India, Nizami reserved his comment, saying that the matter was not yet discussed in any forum of the government.

On controversy over the books of Maulana Maududi, he also refrained from making any comment, saying that he does not take it into cognizance.