Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman said, “We extend our respect to all peace-loving nations of the world. But no one should come to impose dominance over us. We neither want to see anyone’s dominance nor are we willing to tolerate it. Bangladesh will run according to the commands of Allah the Almighty—according to the choice of the people of this country. Beyond this, we do not want to listen to anyone else’s likes or dislikes. To those who will act as carriers of others’ burdens, we say—kindly learn a lesson from those who previously acted as subservient followers.

He expressed these remarks on Saturday (6 December) afternoon while addressing as the chief guest at the Sylhet Divisional Rally of the 8 Islamic and like-minded parties held at the historic Aliya Madrasa ground.

Chief guest Dr. Shafiqur Rahman further said, our beloved Bangladesh is endowed with vast human resources. It is unfortunate that the past 54 years of independence have gone by, yet the people of Bangladesh could not stand upright due to the plundering of the ruling class. The fascists have fled bearing the burden of their misdeeds. But the dark shadow of fascism has not disappeared from the country.

He said, addressing one particular party, that one party escaped after committing misdeeds, while another party has taken the responsibility for same misdeeds. One party earned the people’s hatred through extortion, while the other has begun extortion with even greater force. One party was rejected by the people due to their grab-business, while the other has become recklessly engaged in the same grab-business. One party played dangerous games with the lives and property of the people—killing scholars, religious leaders, and opposition political figures, executing them, torturing them, crippling them, exiling them; and now another party has taken the exact same path—even to the extent of destroying themselves from within.

He further said, the people of the country had hoped that the politicians would learn from the past and rebuild the country anew. But unfortunately, we are seeing that one party remains trapped in the old ways. They are unwilling to accept any reform, unwilling to implement the charter. They were not initially willing to accept the referendum either.

Now, faintly we hear—those who made the people senseless with their obsession over elections have started speaking in a different tone. I say to them—this is not a good sign. They have realized that the misdeeds they are committing have prepared the people of this country to show them the red card in the next election. He said, if anyone tries to sabotage the upcoming election to escape this red card—then relying on Almighty Allah we declare that all their conspiracies will be foiled by the struggling people of this country, Insha Allah.

He said, the country will be rescued from the hands of the looters and handed over to patriotic citizens. The 8-party alliance fully agrees with the aspirations for which our youth sacrificed their blood. The people will no longer forgive those who stand against this youth.

He said, several Islamic parties outside our 8-party alliance are still wandering around; I say to them—break free from all illusions and return to your own courtyard. The place where you are wandering now is not your courtyard. Regarding this, he further said, those whose top leaders say, “We do not believe in Shariah law,” those who label Muslims as fundamentalists or extremists—you do not belong with them. You belong with us; come, we will embrace you and accept you, Insha Allah.

He said, today look at Bangladesh with open eyes—all Islamic and patriotic forces have united. An iron-strong unity has already been established. This unity, Insha Allah, will determine the destiny of the future Bangladesh. Today, on the roads and highways, in the markets and bazaars, in the ports—freedom-seeking people everywhere are declaring where they will cast their votes in the coming days. They no longer care about anyone’s threats. Some try to frighten us by pointing to the power of others—this force, that force, this country, that country—but we want to say clearly: do not try to frighten Islamic and patriotic activists who would smile even when walking toward the gallows. We fear only Allah the Almighty.

Addressing the BNP, he said, where will you go? You live in this country. Try to understand the aspirations of the people of this country.

Addressing the extortionists, he said, stop extortion. Those who are engaged in land grabbing, stop this grabbing. If you do not, then we are clearly informing you—this will soon be stopped in Bangladesh. And then you will have to face severe consequences. Before facing such consequences, kindly abandon all wrongdoing. Come to the ranks of the people. Do not cause suffering to people any longer.

Addressing the people of Sylhet, he said, you have always fought against injustice and falsehood. When the Awami League unleashed extreme brutality on the people in 1996 and 2001, you, the people of Sylhet, showed them the red card. During the incident at Shahjalal University, the Awami League was forced to publicly issue a statement and apologize to the people. From this it is proven that you have not tolerated those who follow injustice and falsehood. In the future, your position will remain firm in favor of justice, in favor of public aspiration, and in favor of the Qur’an.

Presided over by Ameer of Khilafat Majlishh, Maulana Abdul Basit Azad, and jointly conducted by the Sylhet District and City leaders of the Islamic and like-minded 8-party alliance, the rally was addressed as special guests by Ameer of Islami Andolan Bangladesh, Syed Muhammad Rezaul Karim (Pir Saheb Charmonai), Ameer of Bangladesh Khilafat Majlishh, Shaykh Maulana Mamunul Haque, Central Secretary General of Khilafat Majlishh, Dr. Ahmed Abdul Kader, Assistant Secretary General of Jamaat-e-Islami, Maulana ATM Masum, Nayeb-e-Ameer of Islami Andolan Bangladesh, Mosaddeq Billah Madani, Secretary General of Islami Andolan Bangladesh Principal Professor Maulana Muhammad Yunus, Senior Nayeb-e-Ameer of Bangladesh Khilafat Majlishh, Maulana Rezaul Karim Jalali, Ameer of Bangladesh Khilafat Andolon, Maulana Habibullah Miaji, Senior Nayeb-e-Ameer of Nezam-e-Islam Party, Maulana Abdul Majid Atahari, Chairman of Bangladesh Development Party (BDP) Advocate AKM Anwarul Islam Chan, Assistant Secretary General of Jamaat-e-Islami Advocate Ahsanul Mahboob Zubair, and Vice-President and Spokesperson of Jatiya Ganatantrik Party (JAGPA), Engineer Rashed Pradhan.

In his special guest address, Ameer of Islami Andolan Bangladesh, Mufti Syed Muhammad Rezaul Karim (Pir Saheb Charmonai), said that for 54 long years in Bangladesh, those who held us hostage—today we have seen their character, that they are not even safe among themselves; today they are devouring each other. I am deeply saddened that so many people were abducted, so many were killed, and countless leaders and activists risked their lives for ages inside prisons. Our demand was that the killers of the August 5 uprising must be tried, and those who siphoned off hundreds of billions must be brought to justice. After that, a fair electoral environment would be created on a level playing field.

But we are shocked to see obstacles to reform and obstacles to visible justice even today. Those who were madly obsessed with holding elections just a few days ago—when they saw that the people of Bangladesh have taken a stand against fascists and tyrant-extortionists—they have now gone mad trying to postpone the election again. But we say clearly—when the constellation turns to the left, all plans go left. The more Satanic plans you make, the more disconnected you will become from the people of Bangladesh. There is no doubt about that.

Ameer of Bangladesh Khilafat Majlish, Shaykh Maulana Mamunul Haque said that in the struggle to establish Islam in this country, the leaders of the Islamic movement have been persecuted by the collaborators of foreign imperialist powers, imprisoned, tortured, hung on the gallows, oppressed, shed blood, and sacrificed their lives. Yet they did not bow their heads before injustice or oppression. Therefore, when through the July Revolution the fascist forces were ousted, today the collaborators of foreign imperialist anti-Bangladesh forces are again attempting to ride on the shoulders of a new power. We say clearly—in exchange for their lives, the July warriors have uprooted fascism and imperialist forces from the soil of Bengal; they will not allow any new fascist force to take root in Bangladesh, Insha Allah.

He said, we must remember that the upcoming 2026 election is not merely an election of symbols; it is a historic plebiscite aimed at implementing the July Charter. Therefore, activists of the 8-party alliance must work in every home, with every individual, to ensure victory for ‘Yes’ in the referendum alongside their party symbols. It must be remembered that Bangladesh today has been divided into two camps over the July Charter. One side wants to obstruct the July Charter and the national reform process of Bangladesh under any pretext. They think that just as for years one group ruled the country, another might again establish a long-term one-party rule to loot the wealth of Bengal and undermine the political rights of the people. We want to send a message: those who will campaign to vote 'No' against the July Charter will be rejected by the people of Bengal—rejected, rejected, Insha Allah.

At the assembly conducted jointly by Nayeb-e-Ameer of Sylhet City Jamaat, Dr. Nurul Islam Babul, Secretary, Mohammad Shahjahan Ali, President of Islami Andolan Bangladesh Sylhet City Dr. Riazul Islam, President of Bangladesh Khilafat Majlishh Sylhet City, Alhaj Maulana Imran Alam, President of Khilafat Majlishh Sylhet City Maulana Tajul Islam Hasan, President of Nezam-e-Islam Party Sylhet City Maulana Mozammel Haque, President of Bangladesh Khilafat Andolon Sylhet District, Maulana Nasir Uddin, President of JAGPA Sylhet City Shahjahan Ahmad Liton, and President of Bangladesh Development Party (BDP) Sylhet City Kabir Ahmad. Speeches were delivered by Central Executive Council Member of Jamaat-e-Islami and Ameer of Dhaka City North, Muhammad Selim Uddin, Central Joint Secretary General of Khilafat Majlish, Muhammad Muntasir Ali, Central Joint Secretary General of Bangladesh Khilafat Majlish, Maulana Ataullah Amin, Presidium Member of Islami Andolan Bangladesh Syed Mosaddeq Billah Madani, Central Organizational leader Maulana Mahmudul Hasan, Central Industry and Commerce Secretary of Khilafat Andolon Maulana Mohammad Tawhiduzzaman, Atiqur Rahman Nannu Munshi, Central Publicity Secretary Abdullah Al Masud Khan, Central Majlish-e-Shura Member of Jamaat-e-Islami and Ameer of Sylhet District Jamaat, Maulana Habibur Rahman, Central Joint Secretary General of Bangladesh Khilafat Majlish Abdul Aziz, Central Ulama Affairs Secretary of Khilafat Majlish Maulana Ali Hasan Usama, Central Ulama Affairs Secretary of Islami Andolan Bangladesh Maulana Rezaul Karim Abrar, Central Student Affairs Secretary of Nezam-e-Islam Party, Maulana Ehteshamul Haque Saki, Sylhet Regional team member of Jamaat-e-Islami, Hafiz Abdul Hai Harun, Nayeb-e-Ameer of Sylhet District Jamaat, Hafiz Anwar Hossain Khan, President of Islami Andolan Bangladesh Sylhet District, Maulana Saeed Ahmad, President of Bangladesh Khilafat Majlish Sylhet District, Maulana Md. Iqbal Hossain, and President of Khilafat Majlish Sylhet District, Maulana Nehal Ahmad, among others.

In the presidential speech, Ameer of Khilafat Majlish, Maulana Abdul Basit Azad said that the responsibility does not end with casting the vote; the vote must be protected. We believe that all Islamic and patriotic parties of the country will also join us. We have seen many parties and alliances. This time we have formed an alliance to bring Islam to power. To fulfill the hopes and aspirations of the martyrs of July, the joint programs of the 8 parties will continue.

Message Sender:

Dr. Hamidur Rahman Azad (Former MP)
Coordinator
Liaison Committee of the 8-Party Movement