Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman, hosted an Iftar reception in honor of ambassadors, high commissioners, chargés d'affaires, and other diplomats stationed in Bangladesh on March 8 at 5 PM. The event took place at Hotel Westin in Gulshan, Dhaka.

The Iftar gathering was attended by notable diplomats, including British High Commissioner Ms. Sarah Cook, French Ambassador Mrs. Marie Masdupuy, Chinese Ambassador Mr. Yao Wen, Russian Ambassador Mr. Alexander Goryevich Kozhin, Australian High Commissioner Ms. Susan Reilly, European Union Ambassador Mr. Mikael Miller, Iranian Ambassador Mr. Mansour Chavoshi, Turkish Ambassador Mr. Ramis Sen, U.S. Political Affairs Officer James A. Stewart, Pakistani High Commissioner Syed Ahmed Maroof, the South Korean Ambassador and Japanese Deputy Chief of Mission Takahashi Naoki along with First Secretary Minami Tomo.

Additionally, representatives from Morocco, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Norway, India, Bhutan, Singapore, Brunei, Denmark, Malaysia, Iraq, Vatican City, Canada, Brazil, Algeria, Kosovo, and the United Nations Human Rights Office participated in the event. Officials from international organizations such as IRI and NDI were also present.

Several key leaders of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami were present at the Iftar reception, including Nayeb-e-Ameer and former MP Dr. Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher, Maulana ANM Shamsul Islam, Secretary General and former MP Professor Mia Golam Porwar, and Assistant Secretary Generals Maulana ATM Masum, Maulana Rafiqul Islam Khan, Mr. Hamidur Rahman Azad, Maulana Abdul Halim, Advocate Moazzem Hossain Helal, and Advocate Ehsanul Mahbub Zubair.

Also in attendance were Central Executive Council members Saiful Alam Khan Milon, Abdur Rob, and Principal Md. Izzat Ullah, as well as Advocate Matiur Rahman Akanda, Dhaka South city Ameer Nurul Islam Bulbul, Dhaka North City Ameer Mohammad Selim Uddin, and Mubarak Hossain, Jamaat’s central working committee member and Dhaka South City Secretary Dr. Shafiqul Islam Masud and Dhaka North City Secretary Dr. Rezaul Karim, Jamaat’s office secretary Maulana AFM Abdus Sattar and Foreign Affairs Advisor to the Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami Dr. Mahmudul Hasan Chowdhury.

Central President of Bangladesh Islami Chhatrashibir Jahidul Islam, and its Secretary General, Nurul Islam Saddam, were also present at the event.

In his address, Jamaat Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman said that, we are grateful to Almighty Allah, who made it easier for us to organize this event after 11 years. It is a long-time tradition for Jamaat-e-Islami to host Iftar gathering in honor of our foreign friends. But since 2014, the Awami League government did not allow us to make these events happened. Even in some occasions, we had booked the venues and invited our honorable guests but ultimately, we had to cancel all the invitations and bookings due to obstructions of the then tyrant government. We are again hosting you in this prestigious iftar program in a free environment, and we are expressing our deep gratitude to Allah. We also commemorate all the martyrs and victims of the July revolution, who have contributed to make Bangladesh independent for the second time.

We are assembled here in this holy month of Ramadan which contains a profound spiritual significance for Muslims worldwide. It is a time of serene reflection, self-discipline, and renewal. Through fasting, we are reminded of the struggles of the less fortunate, fostering empathy and solidarity. The act of abstaining from food and drink from dawn to dusk is not merely a physical exercise but a spiritual journey that purifies the soul, strengthens our connection with our creator, Allah (SWT), and deepens our commitment to justice and righteousness.

The Quran, which was revealed during this blessed month, describes Ramadan as a guide for humanity, a criterion of right and wrong, and a source of mercy and hope. It is a time when Muslims strive to embody the highest ideals of patience, gratitude, and generosity. The nightly prayers, the recitation of the Quran, and the act of giving charity (Zakat and Sadaqah) all contribute to a collective sense of purpose and unity.

In Bangladesh, Democracy is essential to ensure peace, tolerance and coexistence among different political entities. Since its inception, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has always been committed to the democratic process. It has played vital role in 90's anti-autocracy movement. The party also proposed and campaigned for caretaker government system to ensure free and fair elections.

But during the 15 years of misrule, Awami League has tried to subdue Jamaat-e-Islami by all means. Jamaat-e-Islami has become the worst victims of fascist Awami League’s repression, subjugation and torture. The Awami League government has executed 5 top leaders of the organization and murdered another 6 leaders in custody or prison cells. Besides, thousands of leaders and activists of Jamaat-e-Islami have been murdered. Many activists became the victim of enforced disappearances. Many people have become crippled forever.

Amid such brutalities of the previous autocratic regime, Jamaat-e-Islami and the like-minded student organization Bangladesh Islami Chattrashibir played a historic role in the July Revolution. The leaders and activists of these organizations have also played crucial role in the aftermath of the Revolution by assisting in maintaining law and order, guarding religious structures of different religions and protecting people's lives in the chaos that ensued after the revolution.

So that Bangladesh doesn't lose its way again, the incumbent interim government has already taken steps to reform various state apparatuses. Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami strongly supports this reform initiative and has already assisted it by providing various suggestions and recommendations.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, in particular, has already raised its voice in support of introducing Proportional Representation (PR) election system in Bangladesh, which, it believes, can better represent people's opinion in the issue of the formation of government and similarly it will create a barrier for fascism to return. Jamaat has also raised the demands of including millions of expatriates in the voter lists as their opinions matter. We hope the interim government will respond to our call and take steps in this regard.

We believe that a truly fair political system is essential for sustainable peace and development. It is our duty to ensure that every voice is heard, every community is represented, and every citizen has the opportunity to contribute to the nation's progress. In this regard, Jamaat-e-Islami believes that there is no majority or minority in Bangladesh. Everyone is equally a citizen of Bangladesh irrespective of his or her religion or ethnicity. Islam teaches us that diversity is a blessing, and it is through inclusivity that we can harness the strengths of all people to build a just and prosperous society.

To our distinguished guests, I extend my heartfelt gratitude for your presence here this evening. Your participation in this iftar is a testament to the power of dialogue and the spirit of unity. Let us use this occasion to strengthen our bonds of friendship and to reaffirm our commitment to building a world where peace, justice, and inclusivity prevail.

May this Ramadan bring blessings to your lives, your nations, and our shared humanity. May Allah reward you all.