On Friday, August 1, at 5:30 PM, a press briefing was held at the central office of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami to provide updates on the treatment of Jamaat Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman. Jamaat’s Nayeb-e-Ameer and former MP Professor Mujibur Rahman, Secretary General and former MP Professor Mia Golam Porwar, Assistant Secretary Generals and former MP Dr. Hamidur Rahman Azad, Maulana Abdul Halim, Advocate Moazzem Hossain Helal, and Advocate Ahsanul Mahboob Zubair; Central Executive Committee member Saiful Alam Khan Milon; Central Executive Committee member and Secretary of the Central Publicity and Media Division Advocate Matiur Rahman Akanda; Central Executive Committee members Abdur Rob and Mobarak Hossain; Central Executive Committee member and Ameer of Dhaka South City Nurul Islam Bulbul; and Central Executive Committee member and Ameer of Dhaka North City Mohammad Selim Uddin, among others were present during the briefing.
In the brief press briefing, Nayeb-e-Ameer and former MP Professor Mujibur Rahman said, “Good health is a great blessing from Allah. On the Day of Judgment, Allah will question us about how we used our health. Life and death are in the hands of Allah. We always firmly believe in Allah’s decisions. When Allah wills to take us, He will neither do so a minute earlier nor a minute later. The Holy Qur’an declares that when the final moment comes, it neither delays nor comes early. Allah takes life at its exact time. The Qur’an also states that when we fall ill, it is He who cures us.”
He further stated, “A true believer never fears death. The Jamaat Ameer has said, ‘If it is Allah’s decision to take me, whether I am in Bangladesh or abroad, it will happen. Therefore, Allah’s decision is final. I will take treatment in Bangladesh.’ We believe this faith and trust in Allah reflects the character of a true believer. May Allah grant him the wisdom to make the right decisions.”
He also added, “The second thing he (Dr. Shafiqur Rahman) said was, ‘If I go abroad for treatment, naturally people in the medical community will think that foreign doctors are far more competent than those in Bangladesh. This notion is absolutely incorrect.’”
Professor Mujibur Rahman Further Stated, “We firmly believe that the Jamaat Ameer will, Insha Allah, recover and return to us, and just as he has served the nation in the past, he will once again resume serving the people. We pray to Almighty Allah, to bless him with a swift and complete recovery. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, ‘Dua is the essence of worship.’ Another hadith states that through supplication, a person’s lifespan may even be extended.”
He continued, “We appeal to all levels of Jamaat-e-Islami’s members and to the people of the nation to pray for the speedy recovery of our honorable Jamaat Ameer. We also call upon our brothers and sisters around the world, wherever they may be, to make dua for his healing. May Allah, the Almighty, remove all his ailments and grant him such a recovery that he no longer suffers from any illness. May Allah accept our prayers. Ameen.”
Secretary General and former MP Professor Mia Golam Porwar stated, “You all know — and people across the world are aware — that on July 19, our national grand rally was held at the historic Suhrawardy Udyan. While delivering his speech at the event, the Jamaat Ameer suddenly fell down due to illness. He then stood up again, but after speaking for a short while, he collapsed once more. Despite that, he completed the rest of his speech while seated. Since that day, concern about his health has been widely expressed.
Following that incident, we took him to a local private hospital. Initially, doctors assumed that he had fallen ill due to extreme heat from the scorching sun. Some preliminary tests were conducted at the time, and no major issues were detected then. However, from the moment he collapsed during the speech, we at the organization took his health condition very seriously.
As part of that process, an angiogram was conducted at United Hospital on July 30. According to the doctors, three major blockages in his heart were detected — each with around 80–85% blockage. Additionally, there are a few more blockages of about 60–65%. In total, the angiogram revealed 5 to 6 problematic blockages. By the special mercy of Allah, despite having so many blockages, he has continued to feel well even after collapsing during his speech. The doctors asked him whether he was feeling any pain or discomfort, and he replied, ‘No, I feel no pressure or discomfort.’ Yet the blockages are quite serious.
Doctors believe that placing stents (rings) could pose significant risks, potentially causing more harm than good. Therefore, it was decided that undergoing open-heart surgery would be the safer and more effective course of action — a view shared by the medical professionals involved.”
He further stated: “Placing our trust in Allah, we have decided that he must undergo open-heart surgery. This decision was made unanimously — by his family, himself, and all of us — with full reliance on Allah. Some had suggested that, considering the extent of the blockages and his age, it would be safer to send him abroad for treatment. His close relatives advised this, and we also recommended it. However, he did not give his consent.
The main reason he refused, he said, is because Bangladesh has made significant progress in cardiac treatment, and he has confidence in the country’s doctors.
He also said something very important — as a person in a position of great responsibility, as the head of the party, and as a national leader who is respected and known to millions, if he were to seek treatment abroad, the general public might think that he lacks trust in our country's medical system and doctors. The honorable Jamaat Ameer said, ‘I have full confidence in our country's cardiac doctors. I want to receive treatment here in Bangladesh.’ His decision and opinion have been accepted by the doctors, and we as an organization, placing our faith in Allah, also agree with it. The operation will take place at United Hospital.
As you all know, one of Bangladesh’s top cardiac surgeons, Dr. Jahangir Kabir, is supervising his treatment under a specialized team. It has been decided that tomorrow morning at 7:30 AM, he will be taken to the operation theatre. We seek the help and mercy of Almighty Allah. According to the doctors, apart from the heart condition, his overall health is good. They are now preparing him for the surgery.”
He stated further, “Many visitors have been crowding United Hospital to see him. Leaders from various political parties, religious scholars, and others have come in person to visit him. Many have also contacted us by phone — including the Chief Adviser, several government advisers, and even the Chief of Army Staff. Several ambassadors and high commissioners based in Bangladesh have inquired about his condition, and phone calls are coming in from abroad as well.
However, doctors have requested that, for the sake of his treatment and recovery, all visits and phone calls must be stopped. They have specifically urged that people should not crowd around him. Following a decision made in our Central Executive Committee meeting, the Ameer-e-Jamaat’s mobile phone usage has been restricted. He himself has humbly requested everyone not to visit him during this time.
We too, sincerely appeal to all well-wishers: please refrain from visiting him in person. Instead, continue praying for the speedy recovery of our honorable Jamaat Ameer from wherever you are — through voluntary fasts and voluntary prayers. We are hopeful that, by Allah’s mercy, he will soon recover and return to us. Then, Insha Allah, we will all have the opportunity to meet him again.
We express our heartfelt gratitude to all those who, from within the country and abroad, have inquired about his condition and wished him well. We will forever remain indebted for your love and support for the Islamic movement.
All power belongs solely to Allah. Illness comes from Him, and He alone grants healing. We pray that Allah, the Most Merciful, grants complete recovery to this sincere servant— who has tirelessly and selflessly traveled across the country in service of the nation, the religion, and the Islamic movement. May Allah grant him long life and the strength to return to us and resume his work. Ameen.”
