S A Shofiee, Sylhet :
Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman said that those who had been driving the people crazy by saying they wanted elections are now talking in a different tone. This is not a good sign. They may have realized that the people are ready to show them a red card for all the activities they have done.
He said this as the chief guest at the divisional rally of eight Islamic and like-minded parties at Alia Madrasa ground in Sylhet on Saturday (December 6) afternoon.
The Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer said, what did the countrymen expect after so much bloodshed and so much sacrifice? The countrymen expected that politicians would start new politics by learning from the consequences of past misdeeds. But I can see with sadness that a group is stuck in that old pattern. They do not agree to any reforms, they do not agree to implement the charter, they did not agree to the referendum at first and then forced the government to hold the referendum in one day by pushing and shoving.’
He said, now we can hear a faint tone – those who drove the people crazy by saying they want elections are now speaking in a different tone. This is not a good sign. They may have realized that the people are ready to show them a red card for all the activities they have done. The country’s political and religious leaders were present at the rally, which started at 12 noon on Saturday at the Sylhet Government Alia Madrasa ground.
At this time, leaders and activists of 8 parties participated in the rally along with processions from different upazilas of Sylhet division. The entire city turned into a city of processions surrounding this rally of 8 parties.
Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Sylhet Metropolitan Branch Nayeb Ameer Dr. Nurul Islam Babul led the rally, and Sylhet Metropolitan Jamaat Ameer Fakhrul Islam delivered a welcome speech.
At the rally, the Jamaat Amir said, “Those who have been making the people faint by holding elections are now trying to sabotage the elections. I will tell those who are trying to come to power through various crooked paths, the people have shown you a red card.”
Shafiqur Rahman said, “The eight parties fully agree with the desire for which the students and the people gave their lives in the uprising. I appeal to all patriotic and Islamic parties to return to their homes without becoming partners with any criminal party. We will embrace you.” He said, “Those who have become new oppressors will soon have to face a difficult situation.”
Bangladesh Khilafat Majlis Amir Mamunul Haque said at the rally, “The Islamists of the country have gone through the most oppressed period in the last 17 years. The fascism and hegemony that the people sacrificed their lives to overthrow will not return. He said, “There is no alternative to making the referendum a yes vote to keep the spirit of the July Uprising alive. Those who campaign for a no vote will be rejected by the people.”
Mamunul Haque said, “A party has lost its mind after seeing our divisional program. They are now trying to postpone the election.”
Islami Andolan Bangladesh Ameer Syed Muhammad Rezaul Karim said, “After the seven divisional rallies, it has been proven that the people agree with our five points.”
He said, “After the July Uprising, state reform, trial of fascists and fair elections were the people’s aspirations. But we had to take to the streets because that aspiration has been buried.”Rezaul Karim said, “Those who are immersed in extortion, corruption and crime will be rejected by the people in the next election.”
The meeting was also attended by the chief of Bangladesh Khilafat Majlis, Maulana Abdul Basit, the chief of Islami Oikya Jote, Maulana Habibullah Miyaji, the chief of Bangladesh Khilafat Andolan, Maulana Sarwar Kamal Aziji, the vice-president of Jatiya Ganatantrik Party, Rashed Pradhan, and the president of Bangladesh Development Party, Advocate Anwarul Islam Chan.
The chief of Zayat pointed to other Islamic parties and said, “You look very incongruous at other addresses. You guys come back to your homes, we will accept you with open arms. Why would you be partners in corruption and misdeeds?”
Leaders and activists of Jamaat-e-Islami, Islami Andolan Bangladesh, Bangladesh Khilafat Majlis, Nejame Islam Party, Khilafat Majlis, Jatiya Ganatantrik Party (JAGPA), Bangladesh Khilafat Andolan, and Bangladesh Development Party participated in the meeting.
It is worth noting that the Sylhet rally was organized as part of a nationwide divisional rally program organized by eight Islamic and like-minded parties in Sylhet to organize a referendum before the national elections and to demand 5 points.
