Special Correspondent: Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir has strongly protested against BNP leader and reserved-seat MP Nilofar Chowdhury Moni, accusing her of making derogatory comments about zakat, one of the fundamental obligations in Islam. The organization termed her remarks “audacious” and “hurtful to religious sentiments,” demanding an immediate withdrawal of the statement and a public apology.

In a joint statement issued on Saturday, Shibir Central President Nurul Islam and Secretary General Sibgatullah said that while appearing on a recent talk show on a private television channel, Nilofar Chowdhury Moni presented zakat in a belittling manner and described extortion as “better” in comparison — a comment they called highly condemnable.

“Zakat is one of the five pillars of Islam and an important means of ensuring the rights of the poor and helpless in society. In contrast, extortion is a serious crime that symbolizes injustice and oppression. Comparing the two is not only irrational but also an affront to religious values,” the Shibir leaders said.

The statement added that after the student-people’s mass uprising on August 5, citizens had hoped the country would be freed from extortion. “But in reality, the same extortion networks from the previous government’s time still exist — only the controllers have changed,” it said.

The organization alleged that such remarks from political leaders in favor of extortion undermine the country’s political culture and could be seen as an attempt to legitimize crime.

At the end of the statement, the Shibir leaders noted that hurting religious sentiment is a punishable offense under the country’s existing laws. They called on Nilofar Chowdhury Moni to withdraw her remarks and apologize to the nation. They also urged her political party to clarify its position on the matter and called on the administration to conduct a proper investigation and take necessary legal action.