Dhaka, July 20 -- In one of the most strident speeches delivered at Saturday's mass rally organised by Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami at Suhrawardy Udyan, Sarjis Alam, the northern chief organiser of the National Citizen Party (NCP), called for the total political, economic, and cultural "crushing" of Mujibism - the ideological foundation associated with Bangladesh's founding leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. "There can never be a truly pro-Bangladesh system as long as the 1972 Mujibist constitution remains in force," Sarjis declared from the stage, drawing roars from the crowd of Jamaat supporters gathered in the late afternoon heat.

Sarjis's remarks reflected a growing convergence between Islamist and nationalist factions within the broader op...