Coexistence needed to protect polls discipline Dr Shafique
Staff Reporter :
Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman on Wednesday said political coexistence was essential to safeguard election discipline, alleging that efforts were under way to create chaos ahead of the upcoming polls.
“Coexistence must be ensured for the sake of election discipline. Attempts are being made to create disorder through attacks,” he said, adding that the country must move “towards discipline through a free, fair and credible election.”
He made the remarks around 11:30am while addressing people during a door-to-door campaign at North Kafrul High School area in Mirpur, part of the Dhaka-15 constituency.
Dr Shafiqur also placed strong emphasis on what he described as a deep crisis in moral and professional education.
“There are two things we will try to establish — moral education and professional education. Our country now suffers greatly from the absence of both,” he said. “Our children are completing their studies, yet they are immediately overtaken by frustration. They cannot properly fit themselves anywhere in the world. They lack language skills and professional skills.”
Referring to Bangladesh’s population, he said education must address both moral and professional dimensions for “the children of 180 million people,” arguing that this would allow citizens to contribute meaningfully at home and abroad and to “introduce ourselves as proud citizens.”
During the campaign, the Jamaat leader laid out an extensive set of promises focused on urban safety, governance, and living conditions, particularly for Mirpur and the wider Dhaka metropolitan area.
“We will build Mirpur and Dhaka into a safe city, where life, property and dignity will be protected,” he said. “An ‘Insaaf’-based Bangladesh will be established by ensuring development for all.”
He pledged to control the prices of essential commodities, ease Dhaka’s chronic traffic congestion, expand green spaces, protect playgrounds and children’s parks, and build what he called a “modern and liveable capital.”
Dr Shafiqur said Jamaat would prioritise security, especially for women, citing mugging, drugs and juvenile gangs as major sources of fear.
“Today, women’s safety is the biggest concern in Dhaka. Mothers and sisters do not feel safe moving around,” he said. “From homes to educational institutions, workplaces, roads and public transport, women will be safe, Insha’Allah.”
He promised streetlights in every ward, CCTV cameras at key points, stronger community policing, and a “zero-tolerance” policy against drugs.
Addressing local grievances, he described Mirpur as a historic centre of resistance, including during the July uprising, but said it had since become plagued by neglect, encroachment, traffic congestion, waterlogging, crime and insecurity.
“Mirpur is not just an area of Dhaka — Mirpur is a symbol of struggle, courage and protest,” he said. “Yet today, people living in the heart of Dhaka are crying out for clean water. A little rain leaves Kazipara, Shewrapara, Pallabi and Kafrul knee-deep in water. Drains are not cleaned, canals have been grabbed. Was this suffering your destiny?”
On transport, he blamed what he termed “planned mismanagement,” promising disciplined bus route management, further expansion of metro rail services, eviction of footpath encroachers, and planned, sustainable renovation of local roads.
“Those who live by extortion will never want footpaths freed,” he said. “Jamaat-e-Islami, by the grace of Allah, is free from this curse.”
He also highlighted housing insecurity, rising rents and fire hazards in Mirpur-Kafrul, saying Jamaat opposed forced evictions and instead supported “safe and humane slum development” and affordable housing schemes.
On waste management, he promised ward-based modern waste collection, timely removal, and recycling systems.
Dr Shafiqur took aim at extortion and syndicates he said were responsible for artificially inflating prices.
“We will stop the politics of extortion and syndicates that create artificial crises,” he said. “Those who burden traders with extortion and pick the public’s pockets will no longer be spared.”
He pledged regular market monitoring, fair prices for farmers, and an end to middlemen’s “tyranny.”
Focusing on youth employment, he said Jamaat would establish IT and vocational training centres, promote freelancing and technology-based skills, and offer interest-free, easy-condition loans for small and medium entrepreneurs.
“We want Mirpur’s young men and women not to stretch out their hands, but to become entrepreneurs,” he said.
Calling for a break from what he described as “rotten old politics, muscle politics and the politics of violence,” Dr Shafiqur said Jamaat sought to stand for “welfare-oriented politics of the people,” where capable and patriotic individuals — not party loyalists — would be entrusted with state responsibilities.
He urged voters to support Jamaat’s electoral symbol, the scales, saying, “For your dignity, security and future, give Jamaat-e-Islami a chance.”
The campaign was attended by Jamaat central executive council member Mobarak Hossain, Dhaka Metropolitan North Nayeb-e-Ameer and Mirpur-15 constituency coordinator Abdur Rahman Musa, former Islami Chhatra Shibir president Zahidul Islam, and other party leaders and activists.
“Come,” Dr Shafiqur said in his closing remarks, “let us build a safe, humane and liveable Mirpur. Let us walk together on the path to a new Bangladesh.”