Jamaat promises end of exortion
Staff Reporter :
Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami formally launched its election campaign on Thursday with a large rally in Dhaka’s Mirpur area, as party chief Dr Shafiqur Rahman vowed to end extortion, resist corruption and build what he described as an “Insaaf-based Bangladesh” ahead of the 13th national parliamentary election scheduled for February 12.
The rally began at 3:00 pm at the Mirpur Adarsha High School field with recitation from the Holy Quran.
Dr Shafiqur Rahman, the Jamaat ameer and a candidate in the Dhaka-15 constituency, addressed the gathering as chief guest at a public meeting organised in Mirpur-10.
Criticising widespread extortion, he said an “unofficial tax system” had taken root across the country.
“Beyond state taxes, another private tax exists,” he said. “Every grocery shop, roadside vendor, hawker — even those who beg by the roadside — are forced to pay.
This extortion in the name of tax will not continue. We will not take extortion, we will not give extortion.
We will not engage in corruption, nor allow anyone else to do so. Justice is for all. Justice will not be sold for money.”
He framed Jamaat’s electoral symbol, the scale, as a symbol of justice, arguing that the absence of “insaaf” lay at the heart of corruption, financial looting and violence.
“If justice had existed,” he said, “looters, bank robbers and those who plundered public wealth would not have been able to flee abroad and build safe havens.
Terror could not have ruled the country, because black money fuels more black money and violence.”
Attack on ‘family card’ pledge
Dr Shafiqur Rahman also criticised recent political promises to introduce family welfare cards worth Tk2,000, questioning their effectiveness.
“What will Tk2,000 really solve for a family?” he asked. “And will someone not take Tk1,000 from that first? We have seen such systems before — money does not reach the unemployed or the needy.”
He said Jamaat would not make “token promises,” but would instead focus on building a system that ensures justice, accountability and equal rights.
References to repression and disappearances
In an emotional portion of his speech, the Jamaat chief referred to years of political repression, enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings.
“I see many red caps here today,” he said, describing them as a reminder of a Bangladesh “stained with blood.” He spoke of mothers who lost sons, wives who lost husbands and children who grew up without fathers.
He alleged that secret detention centres — commonly referred to as “Aynaghar” — had been built across the country, and said victims from various professions, including military officers, lawyers and politicians, had suffered.
“Many mothers have still not got their children back,” he said.
Addressing the crowd, he claimed that at least 40 percent of those present had been unable to vote in the last three national elections.
“Some of you have never voted in your lives,” he said. “Those who stole your voting rights are vote robbers. Do you want to see new vote robbers again?”
Local development pledges
As a Dhaka-15 candidate, Dr Shafiqur Rahman promised to work for modern hospitals and quality educational institutions in Mirpur. Referring to Monipur High School, he said it had once been among the best in the country, but had deteriorated over the years.
“We will try to return such institutions to excellence,” he said. “We will make every effort to ensure world-class education.”
He presented himself not only as Jamaat ameer, but as a representative of families affected by disappearances, repression and educational deprivation.
“I stand here as a member of the families of the disappeared, and on behalf of deprived and lost children,” he said.
The Mirpur rally marked Jamaat-e-Islami’s first major campaign show in Dhaka ahead of the February 12 election, as parties intensify outreach and mobilise supporters across the country.