Sylhet Bureau :
We do not want and will not accept the rigged elections like the past—this is what Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Amir Dr. Shafiqur Rahman warned. He said that the elections must be held on a level playing field for all, and the influence of black money and cronyism must be stopped.
He said these things while speaking as the chief guest at the rally in Beanibazar, Sylhet on Wednesday (July 22).
At the rally presided over by Beanibazar Jamaat-e-Islami Upazila Amir Maulana Faizul Islam, Jamaat-e-Islami Amir Dr. Shafiqur Rahman said that the next elections must be free, fair and acceptable. The Election Commission and the administration must be kept impartial. The game of black money and cronyism will not be tolerated.
He said that in the last 15 years, about 26 lakh 58 thousand crore taka has been smuggled out of the country—which is five times the country’s annual budget. If this money was in the country, the country would have progressed a long way.
Calling for proof not only in words but also in deeds, the Jamaat Amir said that their goal is to build a corruption-free, humane and just Bangladesh.
He said, “Foreigners are also saying that Bangladesh will progress a long way if corruption is reduced. Corruption does not mean just bribery or extortion, beyond this there is intellectual corruption, which is even more terrible. When they are in power, they think that they are beyond their reach, and they flee the country whenever a crisis arises.”
Dr. Shafiqur Rahman said, “None of us have any ‘Begumpara’ abroad. But those who were in power for years do not have an account of their assets. Yet after August 5, we have seen—registration cancellation, symbol taking away, murders and disappearances, banning declarations. Despite all this, we have called on the nation to remain calm.”
He further said, “Obaidul Quader once said that if we lose power, five hundred thousand people will be killed. But we have put up guards all over the country after the August 5th uprising. We do not believe in any revenge.
Dr. Shafiq said, we do not believe in words only, we prove it through deeds. We stand by the families of those who were martyred in the July war. We are trying to provide them with regular assistance on the first of the month. We have taken responsibility for Subaita, the daughter of martyr Sumaiya of Narayanganj.”
Regarding the July Revolution, the Jamaat Amir said, “We do not claim anyone as a ‘mastermind’. The heroes of this revolution were the entire nation.”
Regarding the elections, he said, “We do not want and will not accept a shabby election like the past. We want free, fair, and acceptable elections that ensure equal opportunities for everyone. No premature delivery, we want strong democracy. Reforms in local government and ensuring the voting rights of expatriates are also among our demands.”
At the end of his speech, he said, “We want to build a humane, non-discriminatory and corruption-free Bangladesh. Where there will be justice, no irregularities or injustice.”
Special guests at this rally included Jamaat-e-Islami Central Assistant Secretary General Ehsanul Mahbub Zubair, Dhaka Metropolitan North Ameer and Central Executive Council Member, Golapganj Beanibazar constituency MP candidate Muhammad Selim Uddin, Sylhet Metropolitan Jamaat Ameer Muhammad Fakhrul Islam, Sylhet District Jamaat Ameer and Jamaat-e-Islami nominated MP candidate for Sylhet-1 constituency Maulana Habibur Rahman, Sylhet Jamaat-e-Islami Nayeb Ameer and Jamaat-e-Islami nominated MP candidate for Sylhet-2 constituency Professor Abdul Hannan, Sylhet District Jamaat Secretary and Jamaat-e-Islami nominated MP candidate for Sylhet-4 constituency Muhammad Joynal Abedin.
Among others who spoke at the rally were Jamaat-e-Islami’s Beanibazar Municipality Amir Maulana Mustafa Uddin, former Golapganj Upazila Parishad Chairman Hafiz Maulana Nazmul Islam, Muria Union Parishad Chairman Farid Al Mamun, former chairman of the same union Abul Khair, District Jamaat Working Council member Nazim Uddin, Golapganj Municipality Jamaat Acting Amir, former UP Chairman Raihan Uddin Rehan, Golapganj Upazila Jamaat Acting Amir Principal Jinnur Ahmed Chowdhury, Beanibazar Upazila Jamaat Assistant Secretary Muhammad Rukon Uddin, Upazila Jamaat leader Muhammad Abdul Hamid, Lauta Union Parishad Chairman Delwar Hossain, East District Shibir Secretary Adilur Rahman, District Shibir Finance Secretary Ahbab Hossain Murad.
