Referring to Jamaat as an election-oriented political party, Assistant Secretary General of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, Maulana Rafiqul Islam Khan said that Jamaat is ready even if elections are held tomorrow. However, before that, trial of the mass killings must be ensured, fundamental reforms to be implemented, and fascist collaborators hiding within the administration must be immediately arrested and punished. A level playing field must be ensured for everyone. Without this, people will not accept a haphazard election.
He added that Jamaat-e-Islami wants to participate in elections in alliance with all Islamic parties and like-minded patriotic parties. Jamaat is working to build a broader unity to free the country and nation from the clutches of fascist forces. Reminding the chief adviser of his promise, he said that people are beginning to say that the interim government has gone into the pocket of a single party. We do not want to believe this fear of the people. Just as Awami fascism has never been defeated by the movement of any political party, similarly, this government has not been placed in power by any single party. Dr. Yunus’s government was formed with the support of students and the public. Therefore, they must work based on the expectations of the students and people.
He made these remarks while addressing the six-monthly Rukun Conference of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, Bogra District branch at the Bogra Shahid Titu Auditorium on 30 August (Saturday) as the chief guest.
The conference was presided over by Bogra District Ameer, Maulana Abdul Haque Sarkar. Special guests included Central Executive Council member Maulana Shahabuddin, Bogra regional team members Professor Maulana Abdur Rahim and Professor Nazrul Islam. Speeches were delivered by Bogra City Ameer Maulana Abidur Rahman Sohel, Jamaat-nominated parliamentary candidate for Bogra-2 Maulana Shahadatuzzaman, Jamaat-nominated parliamentary candidate for Bogra-5 Alhaj Dabibur Rahman, Jamaat-nominated parliamentary candidate for Bogra-3 Noor Mohammad Abu Taher, District Nayeb-e-Ameer Professor Abdul Baset, Professor Abdul Hakim Sarkar, West District President of the Islami Chhatrashibir Syed Kutub, and East District President Zubair Ahmed. The session was hosted by District Nayeb-e-Ameer Maulana Abdul Baset and Secretary Maulana Mansurur Rahman.
Maulana Rafiqul Islam Khan said that Jamaat does not engage in politics for any individual, family, or group. We do politics for the land and people of the country. We aim to build a happy, prosperous, humane Islamic welfare state, where extortion and corruption will not exist. If the public entrusts Jamaat with the responsibility of running the country, we will not become kings; we will serve as public servants dedicated to the welfare of the nation and its people. Jamaat will lead from the front in the movement to protect the country’s independence, sovereignty, and borders.
He further said that if Jamaat-e-Islami gets the opportunity to run the country, women will receive the highest respect and status in all spheres of life. They will have unrestricted opportunities in employment. Non-Muslim brothers and sisters will enjoy their full civil rights. Jamaat-Shibir leaders have never seized even an inch of land from non-Muslims. Rather, those who have exploited non-Muslims for politics and intend to continue doing so are the ones who have occupied and looted the land of non-Muslims and subjected them to oppression. In the next election, non-Muslim voters will give a proper response to this.
Maulana Rafiqul Islam Khan said that ordinary people are worried about whether they will be able to vote for their preferred candidates freely in the upcoming election. The government has not yet ensured equal opportunity for everyone. Leaders of a political party are threatening that voters will not be able to return home safely after voting.
Some are even declaring that they will stand during the printing of ballot papers and, if necessary, personally take the ballots to polling stations. This is certainly not good news for a free, fair, and impartial election. In such a situation, the Election Commission has announced the roadmap without implementing fundamental reforms. The public will never allow an election to be conducted haphazardly just to put a single party in power.
He said that the Awami fascist government has killed top leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami through judicial killings. Judges, lawyers, witnesses, and others involved in these judicial killings must be arrested and brought to justice. After July, the people of Bangladesh want to see strict punishment for these wrongdoers.
