Staff Reporter :
Dr. Shafiqur Rahman, the Ameer of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, has criticized the interim government for its failure to dismantle the syndicate created during the Awami League regime.
Speaking at the Jamaat-e-Islami Dhaka South City Rukun (member) Conference held at the China Friendship Conference Center in the capital on Friday morning, Dr. Rahman highlighted the continued suffering of the nation due to the policies of the previous government.
“The Awami League government has oppressed the entire nation, and even now, the country is bearing the weight of that oppression,” said Dr. Shafiqur Rahman. “The expectations of the people have not been met. The government needs to move forward with courage, alongside the people.”
Dr. Shafiqur Rahman expressed his concerns over the loss of lives in the country, particularly of those he termed as “sons of the soil.” He lamented that these individuals were targeted through conspiracies and executed. “We do not want to lose another child of the nation. We don’t want any more killings. There’s no time to look back,” he stated passionately.
He further elaborated that the revolution that brought about the current change was rooted in certain ideals, most of which remain unfulfilled. He called upon those in power to respect the mandate given by the people, urging them to unite the nation and fulfill their responsibilities.
“The people have entrusted you with this duty based on a consensus. You must honor the trust of 180 million people. Upholding the spirit of this revolution, you need to move forward bravely, engaging with the people to clear the obstacles ahead,” he urged the government.
Addressing the Rokun, Dr. Shafiqur Rahman appealed for unity and safety across the country. He expressed his desire for a nation where every mother, sister, and daughter can walk freely from Teknaf to Tetulia, and from Jaflong to the Sundarbans, without fearing any form of harassment or violence. “Today, we don’t have such a country. We want to create that environment,” he declared.
He also emphasized the need for an egalitarian society, free of discrimination. “We want a society without inequality. We will not tolerate discrimination at any level. The state must guarantee the dignity bestowed by Allah upon every individual. We do not want division among people based on political or religious affiliations. The state belongs to everyone, and ensuring its discipline, peace, and security is the responsibility of all citizens,” he asserted.
Dr. Shafiqur Rahman dismissed the concept of majority-minority divisions in the country, stating that Allah has not given such rights to anyone. “We do not accept any majoritarian or minoritarian labels in this nation. There will be no excessive or radical behavior regarding religion,” he concluded.