11-Party alliance election rally held in Bauphal
Patuakhali Correspondent :
A 10-party alliance election rally was held in Patuakhali-2 (Bauphal) constituency, to support bloc’s Patuakhali-2 (Bauphal) candidate Dr. Shafiqul Islam Masud.
Speaking as the chief guest, Dhaka-13 constituency parliamentary candidate and Ameer of Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish, Maulana Muhammad Mamunul Haque, said that fascist politics will never return to Bangladesh.
He said the people of Bangladesh have repeatedly resisted authoritarianism. Unfortunately, the people have not yet been able to fully enjoy the fruits of independence. Farmers, workers, and day laborers have been treated like pawns, while the country’s wealth has been looted and siphoned abroad to build luxurious lives overseas.
He alleged that Tk 30 lakh crore (300 trillion taka) was laundered abroad during the last 15 years of governance, and said that if this money had not been smuggled out, Bangladesh could have been developed long ago like Singapore. He questioned what would happen if the people truly held power, noting that no truly qualified ruling group has been elected to date.
He said that for 15 long years, the nation endured oppression, repression, disappearances, and killings. When repression reached its peak, students and the public took to the streets, resulting in a fascism-free Bangladesh. He added that a new opportunity has now emerged to rebuild the country.
Maulana Mamunul Haque urged voters to elect Shafiq Islam Masud, the 10-party alliance candidate, by voting for the “Scales” (Daripalla) symbol in the upcoming election. He said that no new foreign agents or authoritarian forces will be allowed to take root in the soil of Bangladesh.
He criticized those who tell people to vote “yes” during the day but say “no” at night, calling them hypocrites, and said the people of Bangladesh no longer trust such double-faced politics. He warned that if the 10-party alliance is not victorious in the 13th national election, history will not forgive those responsible.
As a special guest, Shamim Saidi, parliamentary candidate of the 10-party alliance from Pirojpur-2, said that the time has come to distinguish truth from falsehood. He urged voters not to give space to hypocrites, corrupt individuals, or extortionists in the upcoming election, and called on people to vote for those who stand with the Qur’an and justice.
He said the public is once again being shown false promises through family cards and agricultural cards. He urged voters to respond by showing them the “red card” on the 12th, Insha’Allah.
Speaking as the main speaker, Hasnat Abdullah, parliamentary candidate of the 10-party alliance from Cumilla-4 (Debidwar) and chief coordinator (southern region) of the Jatiya Nagorik Party, accused the administration of repeatedly stuffing ballot boxes in favor of the Awami League with the help of DCs, SPs, UNOs, and OCs.
He said that previously the administration stood in line in Dhanmondi, and now it stands in line in Gulshan. He warned officials to take lessons from the July uprising, saying that if they again take sides, the people will not forgive them.
He warned that anyone assisting ballot stuffing in the upcoming election will face consequences similar to Benazir and Harun. He said there is no need for officials to belong to BNP or the 10-party alliance—they must belong to the people. The administration should not serve any party but should serve Bangladesh.
Dr. Shafiqul Islam Masud, the 10-party alliance candidate for Patuakhali-2 (Bauphal), said that if elected with the people’s valuable votes in the 13th election, he would immediately construct the Begga Bridge. He pledged that he would not take tax-free vehicles or government privileges.
He said that in the election on the 12th, he does not seek votes from only four unions, but wants to be elected as an MP with the support of every village and every voter across Bauphal upazila.
The rally, held on Saturday afternoon at Bauphal Public Field, was presided over by Maulana Ishaq, Ameer of the Upazila Jamaat-e-Islami. Among others present were Dr. Inab Minar, parliamentary candidate from Patuakhali-1, Mujahidul Islam Shahin, central leader of the NCP and assistant attorney general, along with other leaders and activists.