‘Dynastic politics will end’: Jamaat Ameer pledges ‘New political culture’ at Jashore Rally
Staff Reporter :
Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami ameer Shafiqur Rahman on Tuesday declared that his party would put an end to what he described as the country’s long-standing “dynasty-based” politics, pledging to establish a “new political culture” if Jamaat comes to power.
Addressing a public election rally at the Jashore Eidgah ground in the morning, Shafiqur Rahman said dynastic rule would have no place in the Bangladesh he envisions.
“We will bring an end to the stale, worn-out politics of the past and introduce a new form of politics in this country,” he told the gathering. “We do not seek victory for our party; we seek victory for the country’s 180 million people.”
Laying out development promises for the district, the Jamaat leader announced that Jashore pourashava would be upgraded to a city corporation if his party forms the government.
He also pledged to establish a 500-bed hospital at Jashore Medical College and to improve transport systems and physical infrastructure in the region.
Referring to the referendum scheduled to be held on the same day as the 13th parliamentary election on February 12, Shafiqur Rahman urged voters to prioritise the ballot.
“A ‘yes’ vote in the referendum means freedom, while a ‘no’ vote means servitude,” he said.
“On 12 February, the ‘yes’ vote will come first, followed by the vote for forming the government.”
In a sharp attack on the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, he accused its activists of obstructing Jamaat’s campaign programmes and of harassing women.
“On the one hand they talk about family cards, and on the other they lay hands on women. Even a mother would not be safe at their hands,” he said.
Citing alleged incidents involving Jamaat’s female activists, he added, “Who are you to obstruct our programmes? If there is a violation of the code of conduct, report it to the administration. Whatever punishment is imposed, we will accept it.
But who gave you the right to lay hands on women? We will not tolerate any insult to our mothers.”
Calling for resistance against such actions, the Jamaat ameer appealed directly to young supporters.
“I call upon the youth—wherever obstacles arise, they must be resisted. We will not provoke anyone, but neither will we spare anyone,” he said.
He also urged the administration to maintain neutrality and stand “on the side of the people” during the election period.
In an apparent reference to the BNP, Shafiqur Rahman said, “A party that cannot control its own activists will not be able to run the country. First restore discipline within your own party.
If you need our cooperation in that regard, we are ready to provide it. We stand for truth, justice and a new Bangladesh.”
Towards the end of his speech, he introduced Jamaat’s candidates for Jashore’s six parliamentary constituencies, formally presenting them to the crowd with the party’s “daripalla” (balance scale) electoral symbol.
The rally was presided over by Jashore district Jamaat ameer Golam Rasul. Among the special guests were Jamaat secretary general Mia Golam Porwar and Islami Chhatra Shibir central president Nurul Islam.
With campaigning intensifying across the country, Jamaat’s leadership used the Jashore rally to position the party as a force for political change, combining criticism of rival parties with promises of institutional reform and local development ahead of the February 12 polls.