Staff Correspondent:
The respected Ameer of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, Dr. Shafiqur Rahman, said that the upcoming election on the 12th is not comparable to any previous election. This is a completely different and transformative election, which will awaken a new Bangladesh.
He said these things while speaking as the chief guest at an election rally organized by the 11-party unity in Pirojpur Sadar Upazila on Friday (February 6) evening.
Dr. Shafiqur Rahman said, “This election is a complete opposite of the way the country was destroyed by the past 12 elections. This is an election to honor the warriors of July 36 and an election to fulfill the aspirations of the youth.”
He said that the upcoming election will be an election to protect the pride, peace, security and honor of the mothers and sisters of the country. This is an election for the safe growth of children and an election for the realization of the dreams of blacksmiths, potters, weavers, fishermen, laborers and farmers.
Dr. Shafiqur Rahman alleged that 28 lakh crore taka has been laundered abroad because the dreams of the people were not fulfilled in the past. The next election is an election to bring back that laundered money. This is an election for balanced development based on justice, where there will be no more elections on the phone of uncles and aunts.
He further said, “We want politics of giving dignified employment to the youth, not politics of showing greed for unemployment allowance.”
Criticizing the current political reality, he said that people started having stomach aches after eating rice for 10 taka at one time, which has not gone away yet. Again, various amounts of money are being promised by distributing cards—from 2 thousand, 7 thousand, 20 thousand to 5 lakh, 50 lakh and even 50 crore. He raised the question, “Will 50 crore people be in Bangladesh even before the end of time?”
He said that the mothers and sisters of the country have understood everything now. Those who do not have the respect, security and life of their children in their hands do not need the cards given to them.
Dr. Shafiqur Rahman alleged that people from a party are publicly making objectionable statements against women wearing hijab and niqab. He asked, “Is wearing hijab or niqab a crime in this country?” He referred to the fact that the party did not take any action despite these statements as proof of silent support.
He said, “The best time to respond to this insult is the next 12th.”
Dr. Shafiqur Rahman also said that Allama Delwar Hossain Sayedee was unjustly killed and a vote of the people is very important to ensure his trial. He called on extortionists, corrupt people and agents of hegemony to show the red card.
He said that Shaheed Sharif Osman Hadi’s demand was that no injustice and discrimination will continue in the country and no hegemony will be accepted. He expressed hope that all the martyrs, starting from Abrar Fahad to Abu Sayeed and Mughd, will be brought to justice, God willing.
Warning about vote rigging, Dr. Shafiqur Rahman said, “If anyone thinks of vote theft or engineering in the future—no matter how big the force, we will not give up. We will fight to protect this vote.”
Finally, he said, “We pray to God—that the sun of the 13th may rise with the message of liberation. I do not want the victory of Jamaat-e-Islami, I want the victory of the 180 million people of Bangladesh.”
