Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman said, “Together—women and men—we will build the Bangladesh of tomorrow.” Issuing a stern warning, he said, “We can tolerate many things, but we will not tolerate any assault on the honor of our mothers and sisters. No form of violence against women will be allowed.” He said that once justice (insaf) is established in society, corruption, extortion, terrorism, murder, rape, bank robbery, and similar crimes will not be able to continue. There will be no discrimination at any level of society. To build a justice-based, discrimination-free Bangladesh, the people must ensure their victory by voting for the candidates of the 10-party alliance.

He made these remarks as the chief guest at an election rally organized by Jamaat-e-Islami in the Dhaka-15 constituency on Thursday (22 January) afternoon at the Mirpur-10 Adarsha School ground.

Highlighting the existing problems of his own constituency, Dhaka-15, Dr. Shafiqur Rahman said that more than one million people live in this area, yet, regrettably, there is not a single government hospital here. There is not even a high-quality private hospital. There is no undergraduate college or any university in the area. Living amid the stench from drains in every alley is extremely difficult. Gas shortages are a daily reality. He said that if Jamaat-e-Islami is elected from this constituency, these basic problems will be resolved and the citizens’ fundamental rights will be established. He further said that although Monipur High School was once one of the country’s best educational institutions, the previous fascist government destroyed the education system and removed Monipur High School from the list of top institutions. He pledged that in the future; the country’s education system would be developed into a world-class system.

The Jamaat Ameer said, “I am not standing here today merely as the Ameer of Jamaat. I am standing to establish the rights of rickshaw, van, and pushcart pullers; garment workers; shop employees; and ordinary working people. I stand before the people on behalf of those who have been victims of discrimination. I stand on behalf of the revolutionaries of ’24, whose lives are now under threat.” He said that by killing one Hadi, Hadi has been reborn in the hearts of 180 million people; millions are ready to become Hadi. Stating that Hadi’s blood will not go in vain, he said that no hegemonic force will be able to raise its head again in this country. A new Bangladesh free from hegemony and fascism will be built. “We do not want to see even a shadow of fascism in Bangladesh. If fascism returns in a new guise, it will meet the same fate as on 5 August,” he warned. He added that those who took away the people’s voting rights are vote thieves, and the nation does not want to see any more vote thieves. There are people who could not vote even once in their lives because their votes were stolen in the last three elections.

The Jamaat Ameer said that those who can restrain their own party members from extortion, and killings by running people over with vehicles can be expected to deliver the Bangladesh of tomorrow. Those who cannot do so—no matter how many dreams they show—the nation will have no difficulty understanding their motives.

He said that while the government collects one tax and spends it for the people, leaders and activists of a particular party collect another “tax.” They extract this tax from top businesspeople down to street vendors—and even from rickshaw, van, and pushcart pullers. He pledged that if Jamaat-e-Islami comes to power, political extortion will be abolished forever; no one will be allowed to extort even a single penny. Emphasizing that if Jamaat-e-Islami and the 10-party alliance are elected, the victory will not belong to any family or party, the Jamaat Ameer said the victory will belong to the people. If the 10-party alliance is elected, a people’s government will be formed. Therefore, he called upon the people across the country to elect the candidates of the 10-party alliance.

At the rally, the Jamaat Ameer handed a combined Shapla Bud (water-lily bud) and Balance Scale (Daripalla) symbol to Nahid Islam, Convener of the NCP and the 10-party alliance candidate for Dhaka-11, who was present on the stage. He then handed the Balance Scale (Daripalla) symbol to the candidates of Dhaka-12, Dhaka-13, Dhaka-14, Dhaka-16, and Dhaka-17 constituencies. The gathered crowd raised their hands to welcome them and expressed enthusiasm. The Jamaat Ameer wished success for all.

At the Rally, National Citizen Party Convener (10-party–backed parliamentary candidate for Dhaka-11) Mr. Nahid Islam said that merely being the Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami is not a sufficient description of Dr. Shafiqur Rahman. He is the inspiration of the July fighters; he is an oppressed popular leader who suffered persecution in the prisons of the oppressors; and he is the visionary of a humane Bangladesh.

Mr. Nahid further said that if any attempt is made to engineer the election through manipulation, the students and the people are ready to resist. “Our national struggle has not ended yet. The forces of hegemony and fascism are still conspiring against the country while sitting in Delhi,” he said. He added that their task remains unfinished, and if the 10-party alliance can form the government in the upcoming election, that task will be completed. He said that if there had truly been an intention to serve the people through family cards and farmer cards, they would not have tried to bring loan defaulters into parliament by nominating them. “Those who set fire to slums are now showing slum dwellers dreams of apartments—this is laughable,” he said. If elected, he stated, they would first ensure the safety of slum dwellers and work to improve their quality of life, rather than merely promising apartments. Nahid Islam said that this election is not just about changing a government; it is an election to change the country. He called upon the people to cast a ‘Yes’ vote in the referendum to say no to dynastic politics, corruption, extortion, and terrorism.

Bangladesh Islami Chhatrashibir Central President Nurul Islam Saddam said that the July revolution was achieved at the cost of thousands of lives. He said that under the leadership of the humane leader Dr. Shafiqur Rahman, who is now dreaming of building a humane Bangladesh in the post-revolution period, a nationwide surge of support for the Balance Scale symbol has emerged to build tomorrow’s humane Bangladesh. He said they are ready to give their lives to build a new Bangladesh free from corruption, terrorism, and extortion. He urged the people to give Jamaat-e-Islami a chance to govern the state and see how a golden Bangladesh can be built. He called upon the nation to cast their votes and then understand their value by seeing them properly counted.

Jatiya Ganatandrik Party (JAGPA) Vice President Engineer Rashed Pradhan said that after nearly two decades, a national election is going to be held in Bangladesh—an election earned at the cost of the blood of thousands of martyrs. He said that during the referendum campaign, new oppressors carried out attacks—inside mosques and even on women. He said ‘No’ for those who kill people with stones and engage in extortion, but ‘Yes’ for people from all walks of life across the country. Although he himself was scheduled to contest in a single constituency, he said he was proud to campaign across all 300 constituencies in the interest of the alliance. Calling it the good fortune of the people of Dhaka-15, he said the people of this constituency will elect not merely an MP, but a Prime Minister. “The next Prime Minister will be Dr. Shafiqur Rahman,” he said.

In addition, special guest speeches were delivered, respectively, by Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s Assistant Secretary General and party’s Central Media and Publicity Department Chief Advocate Ahsanul Mahboob Zubair; Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s Central Executive Council Member and parliamentary candidate for Dhaka-12 Saiful Alam Khan Milon; Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s Central Executive Council Member Mobarak Hossain; Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish Joint Secretary General Maulana Tofazzal Hossain Miajhi; Bangladesh Khelafat Andolon’s Majlis-e-Shura Member Maulana Tahiduzzaman; prominent politician and former MP Major (Retd.) Akhtaruzzaman; parliamentary candidate for Dhaka-14 Barrister Ahmed bin Quasem Arman; Colonel (Retd.) Hasinur Rahman; Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish Dhaka City North Joint Secretary Mufti Ahsan Ullah Kasemi; Jamaat’s parliamentary candidate for Dhaka-17 Dr. S. M. Khaliduzzaman; and parliamentary candidate for Dhaka-16 Colonel Abdul Baten.

The rally was presided over by Dhaka-15 Constituency Committee coordinator Abdur Rahman Musa and conducted by former Central President of Islami Chhatrashibir Zahidul Islam. The opening address was delivered by Dr. Saif Khan, son of martyr Abdul Hannan Khan. Among others who spoke were Bangladesh Sramik Kalyan Federation’s Central Vice President Laskar Md. Taslim; Kafrul South Thana Ameer Anwarul Karim; Kafrul West Thana Ameer Abdul Matin Khan; Kafrul North Thana Ameer Rezaul Karim Mahmud; and July fighter Kazi Saiful Islam.