Ameer of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, Dr. Shafiqur Rahman sought the cooperation of the UK government in bringing back the money illegally transferred from Bangladesh to the UK. If the stolen money is returned, the people of Bangladesh will be forever grateful to the British authority, he added.
He made this request while speaking as the chief guest at a "Civic Reception" held in his honor on November 17, Sunday, at the Royal Regency in London, organized by the Coalition for Peace and Justice in Bangladesh.
He said, "Truth is established when spoken once because it is the truth. But to establish a lie, one has to speak it repeatedly. The Awami League is a self-proclaimed fascist party. This is an established truth. The way the Awami League has treated the people of Bangladesh for the last 16 years, they must face trial for it. They have not only usurped people's rights, but they have also created a chaotic situation in the country. They have killed people in front of our eyes. We demand justice for them by establishing rule of law."
Dr. Shafiq further added, "I, too, am a victim of unfair justice. I was arrested and told that I had been sleeping with a cocktail under my bed!"
He continued, "On February 25 and 26, 2009, at the then BDR headquarters in Pilkhana, the Awami League started its politics of murder by slaughtering 57 patriotic and courageous officers of the Bangladesh Army, along with their families. Through this, they attempted to break the morale of the Bangladesh Army and simultaneously dismantle the BDR (Border Guard Bangladesh). After these two mass killings incident, they attacked Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami.
Dr. Shafiq thanked the UK government and expressed his gratitude, saying, "I am grateful to the UK government for providing shelter and citizenship to those, who had been persecuted by Awami League. I hope you will not harbor any criminals."
He expressed his appreciation to the expatriates, saying, "You have honored me and, in turn, honored the 180 million people of Bangladesh. From abroad, you have protested against fascism, and by sending remittances, you have kept the wheels of the country's economy functional. For this, I express my heartfelt gratitude."
Dr. Shafiqur Rahman said, "We want to build a humane Bangladesh where every citizen, regardless of religion or ethnicity, will live with dignity. We want to make our huge manpower a blessing for our country."
He further commented on the judicial killings of Jamaat leaders, stating, "Begum Khaleda Zia, former Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami Professor Ghulam Azam, Matiur Rahman Nizami, and all the leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami were falsely accused. These accusations have been proved as baseless."
He recalled the tragic memories of the July 2024 mass uprising, saying, "The students began their movement demanding their rights, and soon the people joined them on the streets. Martyred Abu Saeed, with his arms outstretched, said, 'Either give us our rights, or shoot us.' Thousands of students and common people were injured and disabled during this movement. Due to the sacrifice of these students and citizens, the country became free from fascism. Now we must provide proper medical treatment to the injured and rehabilitate the families of those who were killed or injured."
At the event, distinguished guests including renowned Islamic scholar and community figure Mufti Sadruddin, President of the Ulema Mashayekh UK Sheikh Mawdud Hasan, spokesperson for Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Europe Barrister Abu Bakar Molla, Professor Dr. Hasnat Hussain MBE, prominent community figures and distinguished lawyers Barrister Ataur Rahman and Barrister Nazir Ahmed, Executive Director of the human rights organization Muslim Voice Mahfuz Nahid, media personalities such as Channel S founder Mahi Ferdous Jalil, former MD of Channel i Europe Reza Ahmed Chowdhury Shueib, Speaker of Tower Hamlets Council Barrister Saifuddin Khaled, Special Correspondent for the Daily Amar Desh Oli Ullah Noman, Islamic scholar and community personality Maulana Sadequr Rahman, Barrister Najib Momin, and the persecuted journalist Enam Chowdhury, among others addressed the program.
The program was hosted by former student leaders Abu Saleh Yahya and Shamsul Alam Golap at The Royal Regency Hall in East London. Community leader and businessman Sirajul Islam Shaheen delivered the welcome speech. Other prominent attendees included former Speaker of Tower Hamlets Council Councillor Zahed Chowdhury and former Cabinet Member of Tower Hamlets Council Kabir Hussain.
