BNP’s secretary-general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said on Wednesday that the party believes in action and not in criticism.

Mirza Fakhrul, who is also a candidate for the Thakurgaon-1 constituency, made the remarks during a campaign rally ahead of the February 12 dual vote.

The senior BNP leader accused rivals of deceiving voters by misusing religious rhetoric for political gain.

“Pir Sahib Charmonai has said Jamaat-e-Islami is not an Islamic party,” Fakhrul told supporters at a school ground in Nargun union. “Scholars and clerics are saying they are deceiving people by talking of Islam. They are misleading ordinary voters and mothers and sisters.”

He added, “They are saying that if you vote for the scale symbol, you will get heaven. No Muslim will believe this. Allah will determine whether to give someone paradise.”

Mirza Fakhrul also criticised the rival party for what he called derogatory comments about women. “Heaven lies at the mother’s feet. If we can’t respect those mothers and sisters, if we speak ill of them, can we go to heaven?”

He concluded with a broad appeal against falsehoods in politics. “If you are in politics, please do not tell lies. Don’t engage in backbiting, don’t criticise others.”