Today, 12 January (Monday) at 7:30 pm, at the Celebrity Hall of the Bangladesh–China Friendship Conference Centre in the capital, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman held an exchange of views with retired military officers of the Bangladesh Armed Forces.

The program began with recitation from the Holy Qur’an by retired Brigadier General ABM Golam Mostafa, with retired Colonel Abdul Baten in the chair and retired Colonel Zakaria conducted the proceedings. Jamaat-e-Islami’s Assistant Secretary General Maulana Abdul Halim, Assistant Secretary General and Head of the Central Publicity and Media Department Advocate Ahsanul Mahboob Zubair, and Central Executive Council member Mr. Mobarak Hossain.

Retired Colonel Hasinur Rahman, Bir Protik, retired Major General Mahbub-ul-Alam, retired Major Akhtaruzzaman, retired Major Barrister Sarwar Hossain and others delivered speeches in the program.

In his speech as the chief guest, Dr. Shafiqur Rahman said, “We want an election where every citizen will go to the polling center without any challenges or barriers, cast their vote with joy, and get the reflection of their vote. Only then will the election be neutral, fair, and acceptable.”

He said that the precondition of good governance is a fair and neutral election. The government and the Election Commission must create an environment in which the people can vote for whomever they wish. If they fail to do so, they should step down from their positions.

The Jamaat Ameer warned, “We do not want any election based on understanding or compromise. Understanding will be with the voters of political parties, not with any authority.”

Addressing the retired military officers, he said, “You have provided regional security to the nation. Now you have a social responsibility. Giving something good to the next generation is the most urgent task.”

The Jamaat Ameer said, “We are fighting against corruption. We will not commit corruption ourselves, nor will we allow anyone else to do so. We want to pull corruption out by its roots.” He said, “May we die like lions while fighting for the nation and humanity.” At this time, he recalled the sacrifice of Shaheed Sharif Osman bin Hadi.

He further said, “For 23 years we moved together as a province of Pakistan. Those who were in West Pakistan did not deal justly with the people of East Pakistan. Subsequently, through the Liberation War, Bangladesh was born.”

He said, “During the Liberation War of 1971, the declaration of war did not come from the mouth of any civilian; it came through the army. History has been written on this matter only once and it will remain intact no matter how much anyone tries. Many want to make it fade, which is injustice.”

He said, “It was the responsibility of the politicians. When they did not do it, an officer of the army carried out this great responsibility. To deny his contribution to the nation is to deny oneself.”

Jamaat Ameer alleged that attempts are being made to erase from the national psyche the memory of General Ataul Gani Osmani, who led during the Liberation War. The first hoister of the flag of independence, A. S. M. Abdur Rob, is also not remembered properly. We must recognize and honor our heroes; otherwise, no new heroes will be born. Those who took part in the Liberation War did not fight with the hope of survival; they fought to bring freedom. May Allah honor in this world and the hereafter all those, including them, who were injured and killed in 1971.

The army fought for the independence, sovereignty, and every inch of the soil of Bangladesh. While fighting, countless officers and soldiers laid down their lives in the Chittagong Hill Tracts. They gave their lives, but did not give away even an inch of land.

Presenting the party’s observation and describing the contribution of the army, the Jamaat Ameer said that due to the responsible role of the army during the complex days of the 2024 mass uprising, the nation was saved from a certain civil war. In that role were all retired, dismissed, and serving officers. Without that role, it would not have been possible to stand here and speak today.

Dr. Shafiqur Rahman said, “On the 3rd and 4th of August, Jamaat was the most oppressed party. In order to suppress the mass movement, as in the past, a dirty initiative was taken and Jamaat-e-Islami was declared banned. The people did not accept this declaration. Apart from fascists and the collaborators of fascism, even nationalists protested it.” He expressed his gratitude for this.

The Jamaat Ameer said, “That day we fought not to save the party, but to save the country. If there is any contribution in this movement, it is a gift to the nation—a token of fulfilling our duty and our political moral responsibility.”

He said, “To this day, whatever language is used to describe this change—revolution or mass uprising—we have not claimed its credit as a party.” Protesting the statement of the incumbent head of government from abroad calling someone the ‘mastermind’ of the movement, he said that in this movement, all the people were the masterminds.

Dr. Shafiqur Rahman said, “We do not want to give any martyr a party identity. Giving a party identity diminishes the martyrs. They are the wealth of the nation. To stand tall as a nation, we must hold in honor those who will lead. We have found the army in that place and want to move forward further with them.”

He further said that the Prime Minister and the President must also be accountable. No one is above accountability. This is a matter of mutual balance.

Dr. Shafiqur Rahman said, “The army will keep the borders of the country intact. If the borders remain intact, the internal affairs will remain in order; if not, everything will become chaotic. This recognition must be given.”

He said, “There must be point-to-point understanding among those who will be in the organs of governance and the state. Even a slight deficiency will harm the country. Everyone must have a specific job description and limits. If the limits are crossed, disaster is inevitable, and from there fascism is born. Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami is committed to building a Bangladesh where every professional will perform their duty without fear.”

The Jamaat Ameer said, “The nation is now standing at a crossroads. The election is on the 12th of next month. The importance of elections in national life is immense. The elections of 2014, 2018, and 2024 do not even fall within any minimum format.” He also mentioned that the young generation has been deprived of voting rights.

Dr. Shafiqur Rahman said, “We want to see our country as a progressive country. We want to hand over a safe country to the next generation. We do not want to build an idle nation by providing unemployment allowances; however, the state will perform its responsibility for those who are incapable, Insha’Allah.”

Finally, the Jamaat Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman concluded his speech by seeking everyone’s advice.