Ameer of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, Dr. Shafiqur Rahman, stated that before any election can take place, the government must fulfill two essential conditions. One is the trial of killers, and its justice must be visible. The other is necessary reforms. Without fulfilling these two conditions, the people of Bangladesh will not accept any election.
He made these remarks on the morning of April 19, while addressing a massive public rally organized by the Lalmonirhat District unit of Jamaat at the Collectorate ground. The event was presided over by District Ameer Abu Taher and conducted by Secretary Advocate Firoz Haider Lavlu.
Special guests in the rally included Assistant Secretary General Maulana Abdul Halim, Central Working Committee members Maulana Momtaz Uddin and Professor Mahbubur Rahman Belal, Rangpur Metropolitan Ameer ATM Azam Khan, Rangpur District Ameer Professor Golam Rabbani, Kurigram District Ameer Abdul Matin Farooqi, and Jamaat-nominated candidates from three constituencies in Lalmonirhat: i.e. Advocate Firoz Haider Lavlu (Lalmonirhat-2: Aditmari-Kaliganj), Anwarul Islam Raju (Lalmonirhat-1: Hatibandha-Patgram), and Harunur Rashid (Lalmonirhat-3: Sadar).
Greeting speeches were delivered by former District Ameers Advocate Abdul Baten and Associate Professor Ataur Rahman, along with various leaders from allied and friendly organizations.
In his address, Jamaat Ameer said, “those who had become utterly reckless in their pursuit to make their grip on power permanent — to whom human life meant absolutely nothing — have, in their final stages of holding power, openly fired bullets into the chests of innocent people in broad daylight, killing thousands. For the past fifteen and a half years, they have relentlessly oppressed the people— imprisoning hundreds of thousands, disappearing countless others into secret torture cells, and committing extrajudicial killings. In just the most recent uprising, they killed more than 1,500 people and permanently disabled over 24,000 others. Many are now paralyzed, confined to beds, suffering in silence.
Addressing the people of Lalmonirhat, he said: “Please carry our message and appeals to every household. Tell the mothers and sisters that when the future Bangladesh is built on the foundation of the Qur’an, women will be honored with the dignity of motherhood. Tell our sisters that this society will respect and uplift them. Tell our daughters they will be raised to become responsible citizens.
Tell those of different faiths that we will not allow Bangladesh to be divided along religious lines. We will stand together, shoulder to shoulder, sharing all the rights, opportunities, and benefits equally. No one will be deprived of what they rightfully deserve. In times of hardship and joy, we will stand beside one another.
We want to live together with love, peace, and harmony. This is how we want to build a future Bangladesh — free from inequality, tyranny, and corruption, a humane and just society for all. In this nation-building struggle, just as we seek the support of people across the country, we also want the people of Lalmonirhat with us — close to our hearts, with a place in your hearts.”
Jamaat Ameer added, “Dear brothers, the fall of the fascists has occurred — but fascism itself has not yet disappeared. We demand the fall of both the fascists and the ideology of fascism. There are still so-called political workers — a disgrace to the name — who continue to oppress the people. In the streets and alleys, in towns and ports, on footpaths, in businesses and factories, in the transport sector, at bus and tempo stands — people are plagued by rampant extortion and abuse. The people’s patience has run out. They have already started to resist these extortionists and occupiers. We commend them for their courage. We assure the people of this nation that, we will stand with them and together build a united resistance against these criminals.”
He further stated: “Ensuring the security of the people is the responsibility of the state. And such a state requires a group of honest individuals. Since its inception, Jamaat-e-Islami has been working to build a cadre of honest, patriotic, and capable people. Between 2001 and 2006, two ministers from Jamaat ran three ministries — and despite countless attempts, not a single allegation of corruption, not even of one taka, could be proven against them. They were not only honest but also smart and competent. This proves that Jamaat has the capability to run all ministries of the state with honesty and efficiency, Insha’Allah.
It’s not only the ministers who must be upright — the officers and staff under them must also be honest and competent. When ministers lead with integrity, their subordinates are also compelled to act honestly. They will at least hesitate before committing bribery or corruption. At the same time, the state must also ensure dignity for these officers and staff. They must be paid fair and respectful salaries, so they can work with full dedication for the country. If a state fails to provide a government employee with fair compensation, it essentially forces that person into corruption. With this awareness, Jamaat-e-Islami dreams of a Bangladesh where people in all sectors are provided with fair salaries and support so they can live with dignity and integrity.”
Addressing the youth of the country, he said: “We place great hopes and dreams on the youth — the young men and women of Bangladesh — in whose hands we want to place the future of this nation. We want to build an education system that teaches them to live with dignity, that reminds them they have reached their current position because of the contribution of every single individual, including the street sweeper. The development of their talent is the fruit of everyone’s labor. And so, they must repay this debt.
Today, many educated individuals consider themselves rulers and the common people as subjects. This mindset must be abandoned. We will create an education system that not only imparts moral values but also ensures the highest level of material and professional excellence. As soon as students complete their education, the state will ensure job placements. Right now, our youth roam from office to office with folders full of certificates — and still end up unemployed, sometimes even choosing suicide out of despair. We do not want to see this kind of scenario in Bangladesh anymore.”
Speaking to the farmers, Jamaat Ameer said that “We want to transform every citizen's hand into the hands of skilled workers. Farmers will produce crops using modern technology — their labor will be tolerable, and their yield will be remarkable. Market prices will be guaranteed to encourage them. We must also establish facilities to store seasonal produce — so vegetables, fruits, and crops do not rot, and instead can be supplied during the off-season, creating a stable market system.”
Addressing the women of the country, he said: “Half of this country’s workforce is female. We will transform their hands into skilled hands. Educated women will be provided with employment opportunities based on their qualifications, and a respectful and dignified work environment will be ensured. Over the past 54 years, no government has been able to create a society where women are treated with proper dignity and honor. In the future, we will guarantee an environment where women can enjoy both respect and dignity.
A Hindu brother submitted a written note to the Ameer of Jamaat, requesting that the government pass new laws to ensure their safety. In response, the Ameer of Jamaat assured him that if Jamaat were entrusted with running the state, the security of life and property of all citizens, regardless of religion or ethnicity, would be guaranteed. "We will prove this not just with words but through actions, Insha’Allah," he said. "If you observe our past and present actions, you will see that we have always stood by you in times of danger — and we hope to continue doing so in the future."
He gave the example of the situation after the regime change on August 5, saying, “We understood that miscreants might try to take advantage of the situation, so we acted like guardians for the nation. For 15 days straight, we ensured the safety of all religious places of worship, regardless of community. In the future, we want to build a country where neither mosques, temples, churches, nor monasteries will need guarding. Society and the state will ensure their safety.”
